incompetent

[ in-kom-pi-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. not competent; lacking qualification or ability; incapable:

   an incompetent candidate.

   Synonyms: unfit, inadequate, unqualified

   Antonyms: qualified, able

2. characterized by or showing incompetence:

   His incompetent acting ruined the play.

3. Law.
   1. being unable or legally unqualified to perform specified acts or to be held legally responsible for such acts.
   2. inadmissible, as evidence.

noun

1. an incompetent person; a mentally deficient person.
2. Law. a person lacking power to act with legal effectiveness.

incompetent

/ ɪnˈkɒmpɪtənt /

adjective

1. not possessing the necessary ability, skill, etc to do or carry out a task; incapable
2. marked by lack of ability, skill, etc
3. law not legally qualified

   an incompetent witness

4. (of rock strata, folds, etc) yielding readily to pressure so as to undergo structural deformation

noun

1. an incompetent person

Derived Forms

• inˈcompetently, adverb
• inˈcompetence, noun

Other Words From

• in·compe·tent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incompetent¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Late Latin incompetent- (stem of incompetēns ) “unsuitable.” See in- ³, competent

Synonym Study

See incapable.

Example Sentences

"Presidents and directors, leave Roma, you are incompetent and unworthy," read the banner outside the training ground gates.

From BBC

“Gaetz is not only totally incompetent for this job, he doesn’t have the character. He is a person of moral turpitude.”

From Los Angeles Times

Her actions enraged Trump, who called her "racist," "grossly incompetent" and a "total disaster."

From Salon

Nearly everyone who has worked with him in his first administration has called him a fascist, a narcissist or incompetent.

From Salon

Rogan never pushed back when Trump called generals who served under him stupid and incompetent because they don’t support him now.

From Salon

Related Words

• amateurish
• helpless
• inadequate
• incapable
• ineffectual
• inefficient
• inept
• inexperienced
• unqualified
• unskilled
• useless