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incompetent 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt How to pronounce incompetent (audio)
Definition of incompetentnext
as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job an incompetent carpenter had built the deck, and the railings were loose already

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

incompetent

2 of 2

noun

as in bungler

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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 incompetent
Adjective
Like her, Americans are also so tired of being screwed by an administration that’s not only grossly incompetent and cruel but corrupt as well. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026 Trial delayed over Scott’s competency The trial has been delayed multiple times after Scott was found incompetent to stand trial. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
The Dodgers reached the pinnacle honestly, in a capitalistic structure that properly hands no favors to the incompetent. — Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetent
  1. unfit
  2. butcher
  3. unfitted
  4. muddler
  5. incapable
Adjective
  • At the Premier League’s semi-regular meetings between heads of recruitment some have argued that the five-step process is outdated and unfit for purpose.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • But in Meriwether’s hands, the show became a propulsive exploration of both women’s trauma and the misogynistic criminal justice system that’s unfit to deal with it.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfit
Noun
  • In This Article A trip to your local butcher or the meat department of your grocery store can cause confusion.
    — Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2026
  • After a tense year of sniping and trolling each other, the family members agreed to bury the butcher knife, and the Original Roy Hutchins empire added an Arlington location near AT&T Stadium.
    — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of butcher
Adjective
  • Here, Rodel shares how to make the unfitted kitchen trend your own, one statement-worthy piece at a time.
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2025
  • The venerable American clan at the center of the narrator’s reminiscences are wholly unfitted to the modern world and no longer endowed with the fortune that one of them brought home long ago on clipper ships.
    — Daniel Akst, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022
Definition of unfitted
Noun
  • Attendees will also have the opportunity to craft a custom muddler from authentic barrel staves and participate in a bung-driving relay that brings a traditional barrel-preparation technique to life.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
  • For more instant gratification, grab a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon or the end of a rolling pin).
    — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
Definition of muddler
Adjective
  • And Rovell quickly discovered Kobe’s mind was incapable of idling, even during dead-of-night text exchanges.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The running game was incapable of generating chunk yards, and the passing game therefore lost the battle of numbers in the secondary.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of incapable

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetent. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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