incompetent
adjective
in·com·pe·tent
(ˌ)in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt 
1
a
: lacking the qualities needed for effective action
b
: unable to function properly
incompetent heart valves
2
: not legally qualified
3
: inadequate to or unsuitable for a particular purpose
incompetent
noun
incompetently
adverb
Examples of incompetent in a Sentence
He is too incompetent to be trusted with such an important responsibility.
The patient is mentally incompetent.
The defendant was declared incompetent to stand trial.
Recent Examples on the Web
Anyone can file a petition in probate court in Florida seeking to declare an adult incompetent to handle their own affairs, though, typically, such petitions are submitted by family members worried their elderly relatives can no longer care for themselves.
—
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
But Marshall can’t do it alone and teams up with his former high school lab partner Frances Applewhite (voiced by Emily Pendergast), who works for a sinking pharmaceutical company as the assistant to incompetent CEO Rick Kruger (voiced by executive producer Mike Judge).
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 3 Feb. 2025
But he was deemed incompetent to stand trial in the Pueblo murder case and has not been charged in DeLisa's case.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2025
The man was in custody in connection with a different killing elsewhere in Colorado, and he’s been ruled incompetent for trial in that matter, prosecutors said.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
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Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025
But Marshall can’t do it alone and teams up with his former high school lab partner Frances Applewhite (voiced by Emily Pendergast), who works for a sinking pharmaceutical company as the assistant to incompetent CEO Rick Kruger (voiced by executive producer Mike Judge).
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 3 Feb. 2025
But he was deemed incompetent to stand trial in the Pueblo murder case and has not been charged in DeLisa's case.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2025
The man was in custody in connection with a different killing elsewhere in Colorado, and he’s been ruled incompetent for trial in that matter, prosecutors said.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetent. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
incompetent
adjective
in·com·pe·tent
(ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ənt
1
: not legally qualified
especially
: incapable due to a mental or physical condition
2
: unable to function properly
incompetent heart valves
incompetently
adverb
Legal Definition
incompetent
1 of 2 adjective
in·com·pe·tent
in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt
1
: not legally qualified: as
a
: lacking legal capacity (as because of age or mental deficiency)
b
: incapable due to mental or physical condition compare competent
c
: lacking authority, power, or qualifications required by law
an incompetent court
incompetent evidence
2
: unable or failing to perform adequately
fired for being incompetent
an incompetent attorney
compare ineffective assistance of counsel
incompetent
2 of 2 noun
: a person who is incompetent compare interdict
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