unskillful

[ uhn-skil-fuhl ]

adjective

1. not skillful; clumsy or bungling.

   Synonyms: inept, maladroit

Other Words From

• un·skillful·ly adverb
• un·skillful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unskillful¹

1350–1400; 1555–65 for current sense; Middle English unskylful unreasonable. See un- ¹, skillful

Example Sentences

The book’s weaknesses include erratic pacing and unskillful language.

From New York Times

Aimed at “Ladies, gentlewomen and other unskillful persons”, it listed approximately 2,500 “hard usuall words”, less than 5% of the lexis in use at the time.

From The Guardian

Kim Yo Jong is fascinating mostly because she seems so different from her brother, whose reputation as an unskillful madman belies the calculated and vicious dictator he actually is.

From Washington Post

I had been trying my hand at oil painting, and as we talked, I dabbed bits of paint, unskillfully, on the canvas as Rebecca watched.

From Seattle Times

Her hands were unskillful not so much from inability as from the rebellion that stiffened her fingers.

From Literature