inept

[ in-ept, ih-nept ]

adjective

1. without skill or aptitude for a particular task or assignment; maladroit:

   He is inept at mechanical tasks. She is inept at dealing with people.

   Synonyms: unskillful

   Antonyms: suited

2. generally awkward or clumsy; haplessly incompetent.
3. inappropriate; unsuitable; out of place.
4. absurd or foolish:

   an inept remark.

   Synonyms: inane, pointless, stupid

inept

/ ɪnˈɛpt /

adjective

1. awkward, clumsy, or incompetent
2. not suitable, appropriate, or fitting; out of place

Derived Forms

• inˈeptly, adverb
• inˈeptiˌtude, noun
• inˈeptness, noun

Other Words From

• in·ept·ly adverb
• in·ept·ness in·ept·i·tude noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inept¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin ineptus, equivalent to in- in- ³ + -eptus, combining form of aptus apt

Word History and Origins

Origin of inept¹

C17: from Latin ineptus, from in- ¹+ aptus fitting, suitable

Example Sentences

And despite the combined efforts of the world’s best-resourced and most scrupulous journalistic organizations to rebut it—despite the great care these groups took to investigate the claim, to show their work, to avoid the appearance of bias, and to package their output to appeal to as many people as possible—most of Donald Trump’s supporters continued to insist that his inept lie was actually true.

From Slate

New England is similarly inept, so this one across the pond stays close.

From Los Angeles Times

Interviews with swing voters conducted by major news outlets reveal their disquiet: their belief that whoever prevails this November will not improve their lives and that Washington, D.C. is corrupt and inept.

From Salon

Last week, the quartet hosted a half-hour segment on the shopping channel QVC, and frontman Chris Martin appeared on Jimmy Fallon's US chat show in disguise as "Nigel", an inept busker whose songs bore no resemblance to the originals.

From BBC

Since one narrow election victory back in 1992, he has shrugged off subsequent political challenges, helped perhaps by manipulation of the polls and certainly by the divisions among often tactically inept opponents.

From BBC

Related Words

• awkward
• bumbling
• incompetent
• inefficient