unskillful

American  

[uhn-skil-fuhl] / ʌnˈskɪl fəl /

especially British, unskilful

adjective

1. not skillful; clumsy or bungling.

   Synonyms:

   inept, maladroit

---

Other Word Forms

• unskillfully adverb
• unskillfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of unskillful

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

Example Sentences

The book’s weaknesses include erratic pacing and unskillful language.

From New York Times

I had been trying my hand at oil painting, and as we talked, I dabbed bits of paint, unskillfully, on the canvas as Rebecca watched.

From Seattle Times

Her hands were unskillful not so much from inability as from the rebellion that stiffened her fingers.

From Literature

In c they point parallel; e is unskillfully painted and lacks the dead or free ends.

From Project Gutenberg

Noted pictures were spoken of as having lost their charm through an unskillful cleaner.

From Project Gutenberg