incompetent

[in-kom-pi-tuhnt] / ɪnˈkɒm pɪ tənt /

ADJECTIVE

unskillful, unable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amateurish helpless inadequate incapable ineffectual inefficient inept inexperienced unqualified unskilled useless

STRONG

amateur raw

WEAK

awkward bungling bush-league clumsy disqualified floundering ineligible inexpert insufficient maladroit not cut out for not equal to not have it out to lunch unadapted unequipped unfit unfitted unhandy uninitiated unproficient untrained

Antonyms

STRONGEST

able capable competent expert qualified skilled strong useful

WEAK

adept dexterous effective efficient experienced proficient skillful

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.

When my wife was pregnant, her OB-GYN declared her cervix to be incompetent and put her on bed rest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Her physician later confirmed they had refused to declare her incompetent.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Palmer found himself spending time trying to get his expenses cleared through an incompetent bureaucracy, rather than romancing a beautiful girl on a sandy beach.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Most patients today have been deemed too incompetent to stand trial, Barnes said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Defendants who are deemed incompetent can’t be tried in adversarial criminal proceedings—meaning that the State can't prosecute them unless they become well enough to defend themselves.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Vocabulary lists containing incompetent

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ACT Vocabulary List

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Awkward Moments

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