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Synonyms

ineptitude

American  
[in-ep-ti-tood, -tyood, ih-nep-] / ɪnˈɛp tɪˌtud, -ˌtyud, ɪˈnɛp- /
Also ineptness

noun

  1. quality or condition of being inept.

  2. an inept act or remark.


Etymology

Origin of ineptitude

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin ineptitūdō; inept, -i-, -tude

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Noem was the public face of that disapproval, strutting forward with arrogance in the face of public censure, a veritable clown show of ineptitude.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Thirteen months on, resentment towards city and county authorities continues to bubble, with persistent claims of mismanagement and ineptitude.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

On a day to rival any of England's ineptitude from the previous seven weeks, both Head and Smith were dropped in a calamitous opening session in Sydney.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

Los Angeles signs oodles of talented players, loses them to injury or ineptitude, and replaces them with new talented players.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

It made him proud to observe that twenty- nine months in the service had not blunted his genius for ineptitude.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller