as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the incompetency of the secretary was revealed only after she had left the company, and her successor discovered years of filing left undone
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Recent Examples of incompetency
When pressed on such timelines during a Senate hearing in December 2024, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf reiterated the issue isn’t a matter of corruption or incompetency, but federal support.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
It's been a revolving door of incompetency under center for the Browns this year.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
Brown signed an incompetency finding last Wednesday.
—Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Nov. 2024
Any disagreements, incompetencies, and misunderstandings will cause visible damage to your home and your mental health during the process.
—Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incompetency
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
It's been a revolving door of incompetency under center for the Browns this year.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
Brown signed an incompetency finding last Wednesday.
—Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Nov. 2024
Any disagreements, incompetencies, and misunderstandings will cause visible damage to your home and your mental health during the process.
—Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incompetency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetency
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
Noun
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He may be frustrated by the lack of basic defensive discipline and shape and Messi may shake his head at the incompetence behind him, but the choices made in roster construction just can’t always be compensated for by the boys from Barcelona.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Throughout her many times as a political candidate and office holder, Harris has been dogged by allegations of incompetence and indecision, fueled by anonymous quotes and unbelievably bad public appearances.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetency. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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