Thesaurus

inept

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of inept

1 lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job

a well-meaning but inept secretary who can't seem to keep the boss's appointments straight

Synonyms of inept

inapt, incapable, incompetent, inexpert, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful

Words Related to inept

ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient

amateurish, callow, dilettantish, green, inexperienced, raw, unprofessional

unequipped, unprepared, untrained

useless, worthless

disqualified, ineligible

Near Antonyms of inept

prepared, ready, trained

accomplished, ace, adept, consummate, crack, experienced, practiced (also practised), seasoned, veteran, virtuoso

all-around (also all-round), protean, versatile

Antonyms of inept

able, capable, competent, expert, fit, qualified, skilled, skillful, ultracompetent

2 not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation

an inept comparison between nursing-home residents and day-care children that many found offensive

Synonyms of inept

amiss, graceless, improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, incorrect, indecorous, infelicitous, malapropos, perverse, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward, wrong

Words Related to inept

inopportune, unfortunate, unseasonable, untimely

extraneous, immaterial, inapplicable, irrelative, irrelevant

misbecoming, mismatched

incompatible, inconsistent, uncongenial

bad, naughty, sinful

blamable, blameworthy, censurable

banned, barred, disallowed

forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed

awkward, gauche, ungraceful

unacceptable, unsatisfactory

Phrases Synonymous with inept

out of place, out of the way

Near Antonyms of inept

fortunate, opportune, seasonable, timely

applicable, apposite, apropos, apt, germane, material, pat, pointed, relative, relevant

compatible, congenial, harmonious

allowed, authorized, permitted

approved, endorsed (also indorsed), kosher, licensed, sanctioned

abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported

acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK (or okay), passable, respectable, satisfactory, tolerable

commendable, creditable, exemplary

blameless, irreproachable

balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious

Antonyms of inept

appropriate, becoming, befitting, correct, decorous, felicitous, fit, fitting, genteel, happy, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable

3 showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)

an inept effort to become friends with their future son-in-law

Synonyms of inept

awkward, botched, bungling, clumsy, fumbled, inexpert, maladroit

Words Related to inept

amateur, amateurish, crude, green, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficient, inexperienced, unpolished, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful

careless, sloppy, tacky, tactless, undiplomatic

ill-advised, ineffective, ineffectual, misdirected, misguided

Near Antonyms of inept

able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented

diplomatic, easy, effortless, gracious, smooth, tactful

Antonyms of inept

adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), facile

4 showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment

she offers one inept suggestion after another for saving the parish church

Synonyms of inept

absurd, asinine, balmy, brainless, bubbleheaded, cockeyed, crackpot, crazy, cuckoo, daffy, daft, dippy, dotty, fatuous, featherheaded, fool, foolish, half-baked, half-witted, harebrained, insane, jerky, kooky (also kookie), loony (also looney), lunatic, lunkheaded, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, sappy, screwball, senseless, silly, simpleminded, stupid, tomfool, unwise, wacky (also whacky), weak-minded, witless, zany

Words Related to inept

airheaded, birdbrained, boobish, brain-dead, chowderheaded, chuckleheaded, clueless, dense, dim, dim-witted, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, dunderheaded, empty-headed, feebleminded, gormless [chiefly British], idiotic (also idiotical), imbecile (or imbecilic), knuckleheaded, lamebrain (or lamebrained), mindless, moronic, oafish, obtuse, opaque, pinheaded, simple, slow, slow-witted, soft, softheaded, thoughtless, thick, thickheaded, unintelligent, vacuous

fallacious, illogical, invalid, irrational, nonrational, surd, unreasonable, unreasoning, unsound, weak

farcical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous

buffoonish, clownish

ill-advised, unconsidered, unreasoned

Phrases Synonymous with inept

Near Antonyms of inept

brainy, bright, clever, intelligent, smart

logical, rational, reasonable, valid

Antonyms of inept

judicious, prudent, sagacious, sage, sane, sapient, sensible, sound, wise

Synonym Discussion of inept

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct). awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

- periods of awkward silence

clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

- a clumsy mechanic

maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

- a maladroit politician

inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

- a hopelessly inept defense attorney

gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

- felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Learn More about inept

See words that rhyme with inept Dictionary: Definition of inept Spanish Central: Translation of inept Nglish: Translation of inept for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of inept for Arabic speakers

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