1
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
an inapt but well-meaning attempt to inject some humor into the proceedings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
a recruit who was utterly inapt for most soldierly duties, so he spent most of his time playing in the army band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inapt
As Pettis explains, the problem is one of inapt comparisons.
—
Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
The visual flair peaks in the first episode, along with the series’ shallow, if not necessarily inapt, insight into life in this particular time and place.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The comparison is pungent but inapt: Archival work is not death work.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 14 May 2024
Some assert that a grip can hardly be considered an inapt jail without also being a biplane.
—Jay Pilgreen, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024
If not then your analogy is inapt.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2023
As a rebuke to warmongers, a monument from one Hohenzollern despot to another seems inapt and more like a hint to keep those hobnail jackboots handy.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 1 Apr. 2023
The comparison isn’t entirely inapt.
—New York Times, 19 Jan. 2021
Moreover, the analogy to securities regulation is inapt.
—M. Todd Henderson, WSJ, 16 May 2022
Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
The visual flair peaks in the first episode, along with the series’ shallow, if not necessarily inapt, insight into life in this particular time and place.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The comparison is pungent but inapt: Archival work is not death work.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 14 May 2024
Some assert that a grip can hardly be considered an inapt jail without also being a biplane.
—Jay Pilgreen, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024
If not then your analogy is inapt.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2023
As a rebuke to warmongers, a monument from one Hohenzollern despot to another seems inapt and more like a hint to keep those hobnail jackboots handy.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 1 Apr. 2023
The comparison isn’t entirely inapt.
—New York Times, 19 Jan. 2021
Moreover, the analogy to securities regulation is inapt.
—M. Todd Henderson, WSJ, 16 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inapt
Adjective
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Identify scenarios where human oversight is essential and prevent inappropriate AI autonomy over sensitive business areas.—
Brent Dykes,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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The Calumet City Elementary District 155 Board recently censured one of its members, Lamarr Miller, after learning he previously was disciplined for inappropriate behavior with students.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Entering 2025, the club responded during the January transfer window by replacing players unfit for Fabregas' tactical system with ten new signings, including Maxence Caqueret (Lyon), Assane Diao (Real Betis) and Barcelona loanee Alex Valle.—
David Ferrini,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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But both those cases were dismissed after he was found unfit to stand trial, said a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
However, the land presented a challenge: its marshy terrain was unsuitable for planting.—
Nel-Olivia Waga,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Moscow has for months been seeking to weaponize Ukraine's democratic freeze, with Putin and his allies framing Zelenskyy as illegitimate and therefore unsuitable to take part in peace talks.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Long Bright River, whose eight-episode season will stream in full on March 13, is neither a transcendent nor an incompetent example of this type of show.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
12 Mar. 2025
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Of course, people love making memes that portray their political adversaries as hapless and incompetent.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In housing, there are numerous examples of how incorrect data has led to adverse decisions affecting people’s lives.—
State Sen. James Maroney,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2025
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But parents and activists say the numbers are incorrect since the campus consists of newer buildings, constructed decades after the school opened, and older buildings from 1957 that are used for storage, not instruction.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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From fiscal year 2015 to 2022, the Social Security Agency paid about $72 billion in improper payments, most of which were overpayments, the report noted.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article The Orlando police officer involved in the high-speed chase that killed a bystander last month had previously been disciplined in at least three incidents, one involving improper use of force and two for vehicle crashes, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In those moments, the human element that leaders bring to the table—sometimes referred to as their gut instinct—provides guidance that data is incapable of delivering.—
Anar Mammadov,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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The type of flexible thinking that Maresca and his dogma is totally incapable of.—
Thom Harris,
The Athletic,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The question of the night is the choice between selling out their souls to the vapid American tourists at the Tropicana nightclub (bad) or singing for their own people on the wrong side of the tracks (good).—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
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But Nicol isn’t wrong to think that the real entertainment is coming from inside the house, where the spry Gita may love nothing more than to be on camera.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inapt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inapt. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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