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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inept
Jets owner Woody Johnson even criticized Fields for his inept play and unwillingness to throw the ball quickly.
—
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Gail Daughtry is filled with the type of humor that is unique to a Wain production, from absurdist visual gags and plot points to joke-heavy dialogue and socially inept characters.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
No defensive end even hit Darnold, reflecting the season’s inept production that was impacted by Nick Bosa’s and Mykel Williams’ exits to knee injuries.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Mercy came via a bye week, the pitiful Raiders and an inept Cowboys defense.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inept
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Gail Daughtry is filled with the type of humor that is unique to a Wain production, from absurdist visual gags and plot points to joke-heavy dialogue and socially inept characters.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
No defensive end even hit Darnold, reflecting the season’s inept production that was impacted by Nick Bosa’s and Mykel Williams’ exits to knee injuries.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Mercy came via a bye week, the pitiful Raiders and an inept Cowboys defense.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
Adjective
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The long-term damage that an unqualified, incompetent, compromised or immoral — but superpowered — mayor can inflict on the city is too great.—
Steven Falk,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
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But this time, instead of managing guest complaints, incompetent stews, and steamy boatmances as the chief stewardess of Parsifal III on Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Daisy has jumped ship (literally) as the new chief stew on Below Deck Down Under.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The dashboard may identify patients who may have started on a new medication that interacts with a DOAC, patients who have had a change in their kidney function or who have been prescribed an inappropriate dose.—
David Cox,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
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Other emails from the latest crop of the Epstein files include other inappropriate comments about Beatrice and Eugenie.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The tech driving my first clumsy steps included a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) and GPS sensors monitoring each ski’s position and the weight and angle of my heel.—
Kendall Hunter,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
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Who wants to sit through a fictitious novelist’s clumsy drafts?—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Such as the one where the candidate remarked that some white rural Americans were stupid and racist.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The resulting investigation by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services deemed the young parents unfit caregivers.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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Democrats wringing their hands and making appeals to process while the President sends people to Salvadoran prisons without trial are unfit to meet the moment, this theory says.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Its old building, constructed in 1939 for the Social Security Board, needed expensive renovations; reportedly had ancient, faulty wiring; was far too big; and was generally unsuitable for modern journalism.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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The list of skilled talent deemed unsuitable by the coaching staff since the spring of 2024 includes the list above, married to names like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, all of whom were found wanting.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The image became a meme, repeatedly used to portray Miliband as awkward.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
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The communication was straightforward and a bit awkward, sadly missing the mentions of Nancy Guthrie’s humanity that had peppered the family’s first video.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Counting on one of the league’s most expensive talents to play meaningful minutes from here on out at his age with a track record like that is nearly as foolish as Nico trading a perennial MVP candidate at 26.—
Kevin Sherrington
Feb. 4,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
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The lesson isn’t that NBA teams are reckless or foolish.—
Spencer Harrison,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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