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
Maybe that data suggests incompetency in the sporting director role.
—
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The National Geographic series dives into footage and narratives from officials leading the disaster response at the time, revealing incompetencies and false information from the media that cost locals their lives.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for incompetency
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The National Geographic series dives into footage and narratives from officials leading the disaster response at the time, revealing incompetencies and false information from the media that cost locals their lives.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 29 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for incompetency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetency
Noun
-
But Iraq’s inability to keep the margin of defeat narrow when that very well could be the tiebreaker for one of the top eight third-place spots showed a bit of naivety that could prove very damaging.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Rashada’s unlikely—if not deeply ironic—windfall highlights the secondary market for House claims that has emerged during the post-settlement limbo of antitrust litigation over college athletes’ long-standing inability to profit from their name, image and likeness rights.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The most serious charges — which included incompetence, negligence and failure of duty — were dismissed.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
There is where their incompetence comes in.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incompetency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetency. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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