as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the astounding incompetence of the new assistant
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incompetence
Poor hiring decisions since late 2021 have created and compounded an environment of incompetence and negligence as well as a toxic culture that has driven away valuable staff, volunteers and rescue partners.
—
Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
This is incompetence and there should be consequences for judges who make our society less safe.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Trump, by contrast, shreds regular procedures, shrugs off the expertise needed to bring policies to life, and promotes administrative incompetence in order to eliminate any authority other than himself.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Cloobeck is also running a television ad in Orange County – where the California Republican Party’s convention takes place this weekend – accusing Bianco of corruption and incompetence.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
This is incompetence and there should be consequences for judges who make our society less safe.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Trump, by contrast, shreds regular procedures, shrugs off the expertise needed to bring policies to life, and promotes administrative incompetence in order to eliminate any authority other than himself.
—Russell Muirhead, Foreign Affairs, 5 Sep. 2025
Cloobeck is also running a television ad in Orange County – where the California Republican Party’s convention takes place this weekend – accusing Bianco of corruption and incompetence.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetence
inability
Noun
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In other democracies, such inability to drive through legislation would most likely be met by a confidence vote, perhaps the ousting of the head of the party of government and a general election.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Fifty-five percent of manufacturers in the state said cost increases have been the biggest impact and 32% reported that uncertainty or an inability to plan was the biggest impact.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetence. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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