underqualified
adjective
un·der·qual·i·fied
ˌən-dər-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd 
: lacking sufficient qualifications (such as adequate education and experience) for a particular job, assignment, etc.
an underqualified candidate
… if entrants are greatly underqualified academically, new curricula will be required.—
Julian C. Stanley
Julian C. StanleyExamples of underqualified in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite the fact that Bradley’s father had promised Linda a promotion to VP, Bradley hands the role to his underqualified frat brother instead.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Having the underqualified Matt Patricia and Joe Judge run the offense in 2022 did no favors for second-year quarterback Mac Jones and made Belichick look bad.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Noem then encouraged more people to sign up to join ICE, the agency which has seen a massive influx of money from the GOP’s budget bill and yet has reportedly been hiring underqualified applicants.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026
The conference is contracted with an officiating consortium operated by the Big Ten, which has drawn criticism for sending inexperienced, underqualified crews while its top referees work games in the Midwest.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
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Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Having the underqualified Matt Patricia and Joe Judge run the offense in 2022 did no favors for second-year quarterback Mac Jones and made Belichick look bad.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Noem then encouraged more people to sign up to join ICE, the agency which has seen a massive influx of money from the GOP’s budget bill and yet has reportedly been hiring underqualified applicants.
—William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 18 Jan. 2026
The conference is contracted with an officiating consortium operated by the Big Ten, which has drawn criticism for sending inexperienced, underqualified crews while its top referees work games in the Midwest.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underqualified
Cite this Entry
“Underqualified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underqualified. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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