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

The smartest guy in the room could also be strangely inept at reading the room.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The authors debunk commonly held myths that cast senior citizens as inept, scam-prone users of the internet.

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Gunpowder started to change that, but early firearms were comically inept.

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“We spoke a lot about what kind of man Gustav was — the paradox of someone who can see people so clearly in his art yet be so clumsy and inept in his real life.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Several narratives thread through “Down Cemetery Road” — this being from Herron, it isn’t surprising that corrupt and inept government officials are trying to cover up a crime with more crime, much of it quite violent.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• awkward 
• bumbling 
• incompetent 
• inefficient