1
as in incompetent
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
a well-meaning but inept assistant who can't seem to keep appointments straight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
an inept comparison between nursing-home residents and day-care children that many found offensive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in clumsy
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
she offers one inept suggestion after another for saving the parish church
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inept
Alabama sputtered down the stretch of the season, barely beating an inept Auburn team as well as losing at home to Oklahoma before getting crushed by Georgia in the SEC title game.
—
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
This has made many American liberals years too late in realizing what was happening, as well as inept at organizing a response.
—Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The inept Dolphins have not won a playoff game since the 2000 season, the longest drought in football — a quarter-century of some degree of failing.
—Miami Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Now, a year later, this new councilperson has proven himself to be inept and without even having the basic skillset to do the job at the council meetings.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
This has made many American liberals years too late in realizing what was happening, as well as inept at organizing a response.
—Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The inept Dolphins have not won a playoff game since the 2000 season, the longest drought in football — a quarter-century of some degree of failing.
—Miami Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Now, a year later, this new councilperson has proven himself to be inept and without even having the basic skillset to do the job at the council meetings.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
Adjective
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In that case, he was found incompetent to stand trial and the case was referred to Hamilton County Probate Court.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In Indiana, there are five death row inmates, with one of the inmates being deemed incompetent to stand trial.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The bill contained a number of measures meant to protect the immigrant community from inappropriate and unlawful stops, searches and detainment and a call to adopt model policies for the state.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
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No Epstein survivor or associate has ever made a public allegation of wrongdoing or inappropriate behavior by the former president or his wife in connection with his prior relationship with Epstein.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But in that moment, my 40 years of skiing experience evaporated, and the bulletproof snow and thick crowds transformed me into an anxious and clumsy mess.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
9 Jan. 2026
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Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Set in a perpetually sunny, idealized England vaguely between the wars, The Code of the Woosters concerns the misadventures of man-about-town Bertie Wooster (stupid, amiable, rich) and his impeccably helpful valet Jeeves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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At Amiri’s trial last year, Manly-Williams was brushed off by the defense as the stupidest witness prosecutors presented.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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To receive one of these designations from a doctor in this era was to be marked as unfit for society and a candidate for potential institution and sterilization.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
6 Dec. 2025
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Families of victims, human rights defenders and international bodies such as the UN have criticized the commissions for a lack of transparency, for being ineffective and ultimately unfit for delivering accountability.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Soils that are high in peat moss are unsuitable for citrus trees.—
Derek Carwood,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Jan. 2026
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These tests, though frequently used in Denmark as part of child protection investigations, were criticized as inappropriate and unsuitable for the people of Greenland and other minorities.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The couple's appearance comes just days after Cher appeared on Shepard's Armchair Expert and dropped a few awkward moments with the hosts.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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This mind-melter from Charlie Kaufman centers on an enigmatic Buckley as the conflicted girlfriend of Jesse Plemons’s awkward Jake, who takes her to meet his incredibly strange parents (Toni Collette and David Thewlis).—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
House’s agenda is to get Cooper to reveal himself as secretly working against Vault-Tec for resistance leader Lee Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury), but Cooper isn’t that foolish.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Giants would be foolish to pay Harbaugh a ton of money and then not take full advantage of his expertise in the science of winning.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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