1
as in incompetent
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
an unskillful editor can be worse than none at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inexperienced
lacking or showing a lack of expert skill
some painfully unskillful playing by the band's guitarist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unskillful
It was intended to be a mockery of the way White people danced, though plantation owners often interpreted slaves' movements as unskillful attempts to be like them.
—
Scottie Andrew and Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 6 July 2020
One of the most fraught issues around suicide clusters is unskillful media coverage, which studies suggest can spur copycats.
—Kate Siber, Outside Online, 4 Sep. 2018
As is often the case, Louie was unlucky — and also unskillful.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2017
Scottie Andrew and Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 6 July 2020
One of the most fraught issues around suicide clusters is unskillful media coverage, which studies suggest can spur copycats.
—Kate Siber, Outside Online, 4 Sep. 2018
As is often the case, Louie was unlucky — and also unskillful.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unskillful
Adjective
-
He was declared incompetent to stand trial at this time and the judge accepted that recommendation Friday.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Michael Skakel was convicted of killing Martha Moxley, but freed from prison after a court deemed his lawyer incompetent.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
All of Quigley’s challengers are politically inexperienced but impassioned Democrats running to the incumbent’s left.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The most common complaints include denying legitimate claims, partnering with inexperienced and unqualified service providers, poor service, and slow response times.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The running back suffered ligament tears while dislocating his ankle, which resulted in a compound wound and replays unfit for television.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The Department of Homeland Security has disputed accusations of unfit conditions.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Co-created and hosted by Tyra Banks, the reality competition in which amateur beauties vied for the titular title and a modeling contract, among other prizes, ran for 24 seasons on three different networks (UPN, The CW, VH1) between 2003 and 2018.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
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The show has been done by dozens of theaters around the state, from professional productions at such places as Seven Angels Theatre and UConn’s Connecticut Repertory Theatre to amateur productions put together by community theaters or groups of local musicians.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
-
The venerable American clan at the center of the narrator’s reminiscences are wholly unfitted to the modern world and no longer endowed with the fortune that one of them brought home long ago on clipper ships.—
Daniel Akst,
WSJ,
2 Sep. 2022
Adjective
-
The same software handle attacks, so even an unskilled operator can hit fast-evading targets.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, the women faced with that pool of socially unskilled men have largely been overlooked.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Large language models now exhibit extraordinary linguistic competence while remaining wholly incapable of accountability.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
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Under current law, non-violent offenders who are incapable of proceeding in court but are not a harm to themselves or others are simply released.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unskillful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unskillful. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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