inept

adjective

in·​ept i-ˈnept How to pronounce inept (audio)
Synonyms of ineptnext
1
: generally incompetent : bungling
inept leadership
2
: lacking in fitness or aptitude : unfit
inept at sports
3
: not suitable to the time, place, or occasion : inappropriate often to an absurd degree
an inept metaphor
4
: lacking sense or reason : foolish
ineptly
i-ˈnep(t)-lē How to pronounce inept (audio)
adverb
ineptness
i-ˈnept-nəs How to pronounce inept (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for inept

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct).

awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Examples of inept in a Sentence

Not only does the post have a narrow mandate, covering such sexy subjects as nuclear waste and solar energy, but the secretary presides over the most inept bureaucrats in the land. — Franklin Foer, New Republic, 3 July 2000
The real hackers have an understanding of technology at a basic level.  … The rest are talentless poseurs and hangers-on, either completely inept or basic criminals. — Bruce Schneier, Secrets & Lies, 2000
To Cornelius, the White House travel office must have seemed—as it would have to any of the others who had served on the tight ship of the campaign's travel operation—an appallingly inept … operation. — Peter J. Boyer, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 1996
He was completely inept at sports. He made an inept attempt to apologize.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Instead, manager Aaron Boone had to answer another round of questions about his fundamentally inept club. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025 China has the most advanced high-speed rail network in the world, but by invoking the Chinese, Newsom is simply highlighting how inept his administration is. — Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 26 July 2025 The encounter is overseen by a rather inept angel named Gabriel (Reeves) who grants Arj the opportunity of a lifetime to swap places with his wealthy counterpart to see if the grass is truly greener on the other side. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 23 July 2025 The 86-year-old leader, still apparently being kept out of public view, came across as inept. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for inept

Word History

Etymology

Middle French inepte, from Latin ineptus, from in- + aptus apt

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of inept was in 1542

Rhymes for inept

See All Rhymes for inept

Browse Nearby Words

inenarrable
inept
ineptitude
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inept. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition

inept

adjective
in·​ept in-ˈept How to pronounce inept (audio)
1
: not suited for the occasion : inappropriate
an inept remark
2
: lacking in skill or ability : incompetent
ineptitude
-ˈep-tə-ˌt(y)üd
noun
ineptly
-ˈep-(t)lē How to pronounce inept (audio)
adverb
ineptness
-ˈep(t)-nəs How to pronounce inept (audio)
noun

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