1
as in inexperienced
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
an inexpert attempt at putting on an outdoor concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in incompetent
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
the inexpert mechanic only made the problem worse—and charged me a fortune for doing it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
well-meaning but inexpert expressions of sympathy from friends after the funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in amateur
a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science
the shoddy tiling in the bathroom was a sure sign that it was the work of an inexpert
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in inability
a lack of the level of skill associated with an expert or professional
the inexpertness of the plasterwork is painfully obvious to all who visit that historic house
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inexpert
Dallas News, 6 May 2022
The procedure is not without risk: The mortality rate from tellurium injections is 12 percent, and can rise as high as 68 percent for children when the work is performed by an inexpert hand.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022
That’s not surprising: Conspiracy theorists often aim to ply the inexpert masses with plausible-sounding but inaccurate legalisms in order to sow confusion.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2021
The evening was a simple, completely inexpert exercise in apolitical comity.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 June 2021
Brainy, mannered, dryly amused, ‘The Inheritance’ can appear willfully inexpert; the self-conscious acting feels both deliberate and the work of a director who hasn’t spent much time working with actors.
—Mark Olsen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2021
Adjective
Despite the exhibition’s dynamism and appreciated efforts to frame each work for the viewer, the accompanying wall text and political readings felt thin and inexpert at times.
—Dallas News, 6 May 2022
The procedure is not without risk: The mortality rate from tellurium injections is 12 percent, and can rise as high as 68 percent for children when the work is performed by an inexpert hand.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022
That’s not surprising: Conspiracy theorists often aim to ply the inexpert masses with plausible-sounding but inaccurate legalisms in order to sow confusion.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2021
The evening was a simple, completely inexpert exercise in apolitical comity.
—Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 6 June 2021
Brainy, mannered, dryly amused, ‘The Inheritance’ can appear willfully inexpert; the self-conscious acting feels both deliberate and the work of a director who hasn’t spent much time working with actors.
—Mark Olsen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inexpert
Adjective
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Mestre’s indictment comes after he was initially deemed incompetent to stand trial by a judge in April.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
13 July 2025
-
Employees may view them as entitled or incompetent, regardless of their true abilities.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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And Hank’s own clumsy attempts at hypermasculine child-rearing often come from his father, Cotton (Toby Huss).—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
-
Gone are are the days of clumsy imagery and texts and fake sign-in pages that can be detected in an instant.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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While red flags were posted on nearby sections of the beach, her lawsuit alleges the city should have known the entire area was unfit for swimming.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
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Trump's nomination of Adams this month stirred outrage among some of the president's opponents at home who said Adams was unfit for the job.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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An historic night at Madison Square Garden on Friday night turned into an awkward moment in the wee hours of Saturday morning at the Taylor-Serrano 3 post-fight press conference.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement To illustrate this point, consider the best man at a wedding who, instead of celebrating the couple, shares personal stories that only serve to embarrass them, often with awkward details that have no place in such a tender moment.—
Matt Abrahams,
Time,
12 July 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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The senior leaders in the Illinois Democratic Party are incapable of operating any other way.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
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If such monitoring and action is not a possibility for any reason, it must be understood that the current system is incapable of protecting the public and the juveniles who have been charged with a violent crime must be retained and not released.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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In contrast, the EB-3 category is designed for skilled workers with at least two years of experience, professionals with a bachelor's degree, and other workers in unskilled positions requiring less than two years of training.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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On its website, Austin Disaster Relief Network posts daily needs, from call-center operators and coordinators to skilled and unskilled labor for demolition.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inexpert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inexpert. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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