unskillful

[ uhn-skil-fuhl ]

/ ʌnˈskɪl fəl /

not skillful; clumsy or bungling.

Nearby words

Also especially British, un·skil·ful.

1350–1400; 1555–65 for current sense; Middle English unskylful unreasonable. See un-¹, skillful

SYNONYMS FOR unskillful

Related formsun·skill·ful·ly, adverbun·skill·ful·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

No man could ascend it except at the southeast corner, and at that place a ladder or a rope was needed by the unskillful.
Heroes of the Middle West|Mary Hartwell Catherwood
They represented him as an unfaithful, or unskillful laborer in the gospel, and as one who was not a subject of divine grace.
Sermons on Various Important Subjects|Andrew Lee
People unused to the world have babbling countenances, and are unskillful enough to show what they have sense enough not to tell.
Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 9|Various
As to Guano, it has not paid me; but that may be the fault of careless or unskillful application.
What I know of farming:|Horace Greeley

For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is but a babe.
Wit and Humor of the Bible|Marion D. Shutter

Word Origin and History for unskillful

adj.

late 14c., "foolish," from un- (1) "not" + skillful. Meaning "inexpert" is from 1560s. Related: Unskillfully.