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
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)
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
That didn't happen, though, thanks to special teams that were largely inept, critical turnovers from the offense and a defense that melted down late.
—
Rob Reischel, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
The Coens won Best Original Screenplay and Frances McDormand took her first Oscar home for playing the unforgettable Marge Gunderson, a Minnesotan cop who gets entangled in a car salesman’s deeply inept foray into the criminal world.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
With Minnesota leading by just two at the break after blowing a 21-point first-quarter advantage thanks to some inept defense, Edwards cranked up the dial, scoring 20 of his 49 points in the third quarter to guide Minnesota to a 127-108 victory.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
The stranger produced an inept screenplay, which was accepted as proof that only a fool would try to make a film from my novel.
—David Rabe, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Rob Reischel, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
The Coens won Best Original Screenplay and Frances McDormand took her first Oscar home for playing the unforgettable Marge Gunderson, a Minnesotan cop who gets entangled in a car salesman’s deeply inept foray into the criminal world.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
With Minnesota leading by just two at the break after blowing a 21-point first-quarter advantage thanks to some inept defense, Edwards cranked up the dial, scoring 20 of his 49 points in the third quarter to guide Minnesota to a 127-108 victory.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
The stranger produced an inept screenplay, which was accepted as proof that only a fool would try to make a film from my novel.
—David Rabe, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
Adjective
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Republicans stand in solidarity, voting for incompetent Cabinet picks, while Democrats are barred from entering the U.S. Agency for International Development building, which Musk shut down.—
Christine Ledbetter,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
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The difference in expertise is often shocking, which is one reason so many appeals cite incompetent representation.—
Lawrence Wright,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While booting a car may be an appropriate remedy to curb parking violations, booting a car that also immobilizes other non-offending vehicles is inappropriate.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
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Doing so discourages inappropriate behavior with clear sanctions that are duly communicated to the entire organization, while good behavior is rewarded.—
Susana Sierra,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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What starts with a clumsy confession that threatened to derail their relationship altogether, ends with Mark and Helly closer than ever.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Feb. 2025
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Take a deep breath because these claims form just one part of a clumsy web of viral content, in which Ronaldo, Messi and their children are part of the collateral.—
Adam Crafton,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother's ear.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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That would have been a stupid question just about anywhere else, but the exhibition was by Laura Owens, a painter with a penchant for trickery, and the venue was Matthew Marks Gallery in New York, whose press release for Owens’s latest outing offered little in the way of explanation.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Kash Patel is set to become the latest of President Donald Trump‘s unfit and unqualified loyalists confirmed for a leadership role in Washington, with Senate Republicans ready and willing to install the QAnon promoter and 2020 election denier as the next director of the FBI.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2025
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Her letter, which was followed up by a social media post, was withering in making the case that Kennedy was unfit for the role and personal in detailing his struggles with drug addiction.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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So, with the names in play unsuitable, and no speed merchants on the trade block, does Oilers GM Stan Bowman pivot to another player type?—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
12 Feb. 2025
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The following year, regulators ruled that the company was unsuitable to operate its casinos in Sydney and Queensland, placing them under government supervision.—
Yessar Rosendar,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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At the time Stott suffered the injury, during an awkward swing in a mid-May series at Miami, the Phillies were already facing life without shortstop Trea Turner.—
Matt Gelb,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
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Where some toiletry bags end up having an awkward shape that won’t easily fit into your luggage, these are the opposite.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Miami would be foolish to hold onto him as the team still looks to be multiple years away from contending for a postseason berth.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
23 Feb. 2025
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Currently 44-10 | On pace for 67-15 Underestimating the Cavs has proven to be a foolish practice this season.—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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