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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incompetent
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
Setting a Trap According to Newsweek, some employees have resorted to creative measures to expose lazy or incompetent colleagues.
—Matthew Impelli, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Daybell was deprived of her right to due process under the 14th Amendment when the district court held pretrial hearings that affected her substantial rights in her absence and while she was declared incompetent.
—Nate Eaton, Idaho Statesman, 9 June 2025
Sabrina Carpenter isn’t holding back on her thoughts about incompetent men.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Noun
White, who was taken into custody by federal agents, was later found incompetent to stand trial on hijacking and murder charges.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
Setting a Trap According to Newsweek, some employees have resorted to creative measures to expose lazy or incompetent colleagues.
—Matthew Impelli, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Daybell was deprived of her right to due process under the 14th Amendment when the district court held pretrial hearings that affected her substantial rights in her absence and while she was declared incompetent.
—Nate Eaton, Idaho Statesman, 9 June 2025
Sabrina Carpenter isn’t holding back on her thoughts about incompetent men.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetent
Adjective
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These board members have betrayed the public trust and shown themselves to be unfit to govern the district.—
Jay Steiger,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 June 2025
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Brushing up on English has taken on new urgency for future and current truck drivers after President Donald Trump issued an executive order saying truckers who don’t read and speak the language proficiently would be considered unfit for service.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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This fact underscores Einstein’s wisdom that average individuals are incapable of understanding why great leaders always choose freedom of honesty over the prison of others’ opinions.—
Dr. Adil Dalal,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
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This definition also includes instance in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity (include due to the influence of drugs or alcohol) or because of age.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
23 June 2025
Noun
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At first Spielberg gives you elusive but evocative shots of fins, as well as the shark's own underwater perspective of potential human meals swimming above (to the shark, those legs must look like hams hanging in a butcher’s shop).—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
21 June 2025
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Her latest restaurant project is with Chef Philip Tessier, who’s launching Understudy, a culinary destination in Napa featuring a patisserie, butcher, teaching kitchen, and a culinary museum.—
Kristen Philipkoski,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetent. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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