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
Portalatin’s petition seeks to remove Wilder and Saenz using a statute in the Texas Local Government Code that allows for citizens to seek public officials’ removal due to incompetency, official misconduct or drunkenness both on and off duty.
—
Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2025
If Black and Middlebrooks plan to make that challenge, their lawyers must file petitions alleging incompetency between May 27-29 for Black and between July 7-9 for Middlebrooks.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for incompetency
Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2025
If Black and Middlebrooks plan to make that challenge, their lawyers must file petitions alleging incompetency between May 27-29 for Black and between July 7-9 for Middlebrooks.
—Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for incompetency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetency
Noun
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Its launch of ChatGPT-5 in August was a disaster, as the new model had a flatter, more terse personality, as well as an alarming inability to answer basic questions.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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Carter’s inability to stay healthy is one of the major reasons why this outfield became so problematic in each of the past two years.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Investigators found widespread fraud and incompetence in the tax prep industry.—
Michelle Singletary,
Washington Post,
21 Mar. 2026
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The state Board of Dentistry suspended Kamel, who was accused of incompetence after putting two patients through elaborate implant surgeries that failed, leading to painful infections.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incompetency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetency. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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