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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Recent Examples of incompetent
Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Cervical insufficiency, also referred to as an incompetent cervix, is a condition that occurs typically in the second trimester (typically between 14-24 weeks) when the cervical canal prematurely dilates and effaces, often leading to miscarriage or preterm birth.
—Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
The oligarchy is almost as incompetent and out of touch as is Trump.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
Lawyers for Mike Jeffries, 80, are hoping to place him in the custody of the Attorney General for further evaluation
1 Comments
Lawyers for ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries filed a motion on Thursday saying that their client is mentally incompetent to stand trial.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Adjective
Hanging over the case was the question of why an agent widely regarded as incompetent was allowed to keep his job.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Cervical insufficiency, also referred to as an incompetent cervix, is a condition that occurs typically in the second trimester (typically between 14-24 weeks) when the cervical canal prematurely dilates and effaces, often leading to miscarriage or preterm birth.
—Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
The oligarchy is almost as incompetent and out of touch as is Trump.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
Lawyers for Mike Jeffries, 80, are hoping to place him in the custody of the Attorney General for further evaluation
1 Comments
Lawyers for ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries filed a motion on Thursday saying that their client is mentally incompetent to stand trial.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetent
Adjective
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Its troubles began in 2022 after regulators declared the company unfit to operate its casinos following media reports of money laundering at its properties.—
Yessar Rosendar,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Just like an organization being certain that other players are unfit for the harsh glare of intense games in April.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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,
24 Apr. 2025
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The choice was viewed by many at the school as the latest affront in a long history of treating the deaf as incapable of functioning without help from the hearing.—
David Owen,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Yes, ancient human butchers wielding stone tools would leave marks on bone.—
Briana Pobiner,
The Conversation,
11 Apr. 2025
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The meat and sausages come from the nearby butcher, and the cheese is from the type of local dairy that brags about its cows’ diet of pasture grasses and hay.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetent. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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