Incompetent Definition & Meaning

incompetent
adjective
  1. legally not qualified or sufficient; "a wife is usually considered unqualified to testify against her husband"; "incompetent witnesses"
  2. not qualified or suited for a purpose; "an incompetent secret service"; "the filming was hopeless incompetent"
  3. showing lack of skill or aptitude; "a bungling workman"; "did a clumsy job"; "his fumbling attempt to put up a shelf"
  4. not doing a good job; "incompetent at chess"
  5. not meeting requirements; "unequal to the demands put upon him"
noun
  1. someone who is not competent to take effective action

Synonyms for incompetent

bad adv

with great intensity (`bad' is a nonstandard variant for `badly'); "the injury hurt badly

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
bungling adj

showing lack of skill or aptitude; "a bungling workman"; "did a clumsy job

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
clumsy adj

lacking grace in movement or posture; "a gawky lad with long ungainly legs"; "clumsy fingers

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feckless adj

not fit to assume responsibility generally incompetent and ineffectual; "feckless attempts to repair the plumbing

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fumbling adj

showing lack of skill or aptitude; "a bungling workman"; "did a clumsy job"; "his fumbling attempt to put up a shelf"

♫ Rhymes
inadequate adj

lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task; "inadequate training"; "the staff was inadequate

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incapable adj

(followed by `of') lacking capacity or ability; "incapable of carrying a tune

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ineffective adj

not producing an intended effect; "an ineffective teacher"; "ineffective legislation" lacking in power or forcefulness

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inefficient adj

not producing desired results; wasteful; "an inefficient campaign against drugs

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inept adj

not elegant or graceful in expression; "an awkward prose style"; "a clumsy apology"; "his cumbersome writing style

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"Incompetent" in song lyrics

See how incompetent is used in real songs:

  • "But, lucky for me you're all incompetent"
    Jean Grae & 9th Wonder — Don't Rush Me
  • "Rather, the vast majority of them's to damn incompetent"
    Krayzie Bone f/ Bone Thugs (Layzie Bone, Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone)
  • "You can't understand, son, you incompetent"
    RZA — Don't Be Afraid

Words that rhyme with incompetent

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Usage tips for "incompetent"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "incompetent" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for incompetent to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with incompetent ↔ Synonyms for incompetent 🔬 Words containing incompetent

Frequently asked questions

What does incompetent mean?
legally not qualified or sufficient; "a wife is usually considered unqualified to testify against her husband"; "incompetent witnesses" not qualified or suited for a purpose; "an incompetent secret service"; "the filming was hopeless incompetent" showing lack of skill or aptitude; "a bungling workman"; "did a clumsy job"; "his fumbling attempt to put up a shelf" not doing a good job; "incompetent at chess" not meeting requirements
What part of speech is incompetent?
Incompetent is an adjective and a noun.
How many definitions does incompetent have?
Incompetent has 6 definitions across 2 parts of speech (adjective, noun).

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