inept

adjective

i-ˈnept How to pronounce inept (audio)
Definition of ineptnext
Enter your own sentence containing inept , and get words to replace it.
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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

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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

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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

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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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective inept contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of inept are awkward, clumsy, gauche, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

When is it sensible to use awkward instead of inept?

The words awkward and inept can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

In what contexts can clumsy take the place of inept?

The meanings of clumsy and inept largely overlap; however, clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When might gauche be a better fit than inept?

The synonyms gauche and inept are sometimes interchangeable, but gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

When could maladroit be used to replace inept?

In some situations, the words maladroit and inept are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inept And the Shelton factory would not have been on even the most inept anarchist’s to-hit list. — Jody Mamone, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025 Once more unto the breach arrives Donald Trump, back in office with more help from the Kremlin—and the inept Democrats—ready to throw his old pal Putin a lifeline. — Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025 Lawlor played the inept Leonard Marsh, who works with Leachman’s Phyllis Lindstrom in the San Francisco City Supervisor’s office, on the second and last season (1976-77) of Phyllis, one of the many Mary Tyler Moore Show spinoffs. — Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2025 It was led initially by Barnard, who was considered an inept administrator. — Richard Stengel, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
  1. incompetent
  2. inappropriate
  3. clumsy
  4. stupid
  5. unfit
  6. unsuitable
  7. awkward
  8. foolish
Adjective
  • 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
  • Of course, people love making memes that portray their political adversaries as hapless and incompetent.
    — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of incompetent
Adjective
  • Identify scenarios where human oversight is essential and prevent inappropriate AI autonomy over sensitive business areas.
    — Brent Dykes, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Definition of inappropriate
Adjective
  • Kisses her mouth, but the gesture is awkward, clumsy; their teeth strike together, and Brianna winces.
    — Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
  • As well as making a star of Alicia Silverstone, the original movie showcased the talents of Paul Rudd who played her stepbrother Josh (and went onto become Phoebe’s partner in Friends and take on the role of Ant Man) and the late Brittany Murphy, who played Cher’s clumsy friend Tai.
    — Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Ignoring those who served and buried honorably is stupid.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • These individuals—who meet all military requirements, are deployed worldwide, and serve with distinction—are now labeled unfit based on a characteristic that has nothing to do with their abilities or performance.
    — Carlos Del Toro, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
  • When the Gulf War broke out in 1990, many staffers resisted covering it at all, deeming it a jingoistic exercise unfit for media participation.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of unfit
Adjective
  • However, the land presented a challenge: its marshy terrain was unsuitable for planting.
    — Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Definition of unsuitable
Adjective
  • Historically an awkward public speaker, Johnson nevertheless saw the invitation as an opportunity to promote his plan for a voting rights bill.
    — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Things only get less interesting as that love triangles widens into an awkward kind of square, the chiaroscuro splendor of Soderbergh’s cinematography laboring to compensate for a murder-mystery that’s as scattered and impenetrable as Berlin itself.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • No matter what your feelings are about Sternberg and his executive team today, these are not foolish people.
    — John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
  • There's nothing foolish about choosing beauty over practicality if that's what your heart desires.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of foolish

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Cite this Entry

“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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