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

Other Word Forms

• ineptly adverb
• ineptness noun
• ineptitude 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

As Curry puts it, leaders at white-shoe law firms, elite universities and major foundations have repeatedly surrendered without a shot, revealing themselves as “traitors, cowards, rank opportunists or simply inept.”

Read more on Salon

The FBI has assigned him to man a table at recruitment fairs, but he’s an inept salesman and not much more effective as a father.

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So, in his typically inept attempt to downplay his connection to the Epstein scandal, Donald revealed that a former employee was the reason his friendship with Epstein ended.

Read more on Salon

“I think there’s probably a bunch of episodes this season that are going to be people’s favorite episodes that they have ever seen,” says Povenmire, who also voices the show’s inept nemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some believe that it was intrinsically inept to target a benefit paid to pensioners.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• awkward 
• bumbling 
• incompetent 
• inefficient