as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the astounding incompetence of the new assistant
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Recent Examples of incompetence
Total incompetence What Goldberg received and reported speaks not only to incompetence in security but in foreign affairs.
—
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
In his remarks, Mr. Trump equated diversity with incompetence, and effectively aligned himself with people who use diversity, equity and inclusion, or D.E.I., as a proxy for race, a dog whistle for white grievance, and a catchall for societal ills.
—Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Read’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told the jury the collision did not happen and the investigation into Read was filled with errors, bias and incompetence.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Lastly there’s the Rockies who are embarking on their seventh straight losing season since being swept in the 2018 NLDS — all of which can be attributed not to penny pinching but rather the incompetence of owner Monfort.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
In his remarks, Mr. Trump equated diversity with incompetence, and effectively aligned himself with people who use diversity, equity and inclusion, or D.E.I., as a proxy for race, a dog whistle for white grievance, and a catchall for societal ills.
—Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Read’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told the jury the collision did not happen and the investigation into Read was filled with errors, bias and incompetence.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Lastly there’s the Rockies who are embarking on their seventh straight losing season since being swept in the 2018 NLDS — all of which can be attributed not to penny pinching but rather the incompetence of owner Monfort.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetence
inability
Noun
-
Rage, fatigue, mood swings, memory loss, hot flashes, itchy ears, inability to sleep, loss of libido, hair thinning, depression, weight gain, sore knees, night sweats, incontinence.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
15 May 2025
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More accurately, the newly positive change in your 401(k) has to do with the inability of presidents to ignore market sentiment and live to tell the tale.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetence. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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