as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the astounding incompetence of the new assistant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incompetence
The same is not true of some of the other casualties in the war on information, which have fallen victim to both ideology and incompetence.
—
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
Dwala Marie Lehman had been charged with professional incompetence in the death of 77-year-old Lynne Stewart, who wandered out a door and wasn't found until 15 hours later in minus-11-degree cold.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 5 Feb. 2026
Trump has repeatedly accused Powell of either incompetence or corruption over his handling of the pricey construction project.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
But some women who have complained were met by incompetence, according to the Sunday letter to the court from Henderson and attorney Brad Edwards.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
Dwala Marie Lehman had been charged with professional incompetence in the death of 77-year-old Lynne Stewart, who wandered out a door and wasn't found until 15 hours later in minus-11-degree cold.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 5 Feb. 2026
Trump has repeatedly accused Powell of either incompetence or corruption over his handling of the pricey construction project.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
But some women who have complained were met by incompetence, according to the Sunday letter to the court from Henderson and attorney Brad Edwards.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetence
inability
Noun
-
But its lofty position is threatened by, among other things, America’s own chronic inability to keep a balanced budget, and the administration’s trade policy is part of what’s holding it back from doing so.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Rust, more than most of the Penguins, has taken the franchise’s recent inability to reach the postseason especially hard in recent years.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetence. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
