Inept
adjective
Having or showing no skill or ability.
He was inept at sports and always the last one to be picked for any team.
Often appears as...
- inept at
- inept handling
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Not suitable or appropriate, not the right type for a purpose.
His inept remarks were not well received by the audience.
Often appears as...
- inept comments
- inept strategy
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Having or showing no skill or ability.
He was inept at sports and always the last one to be picked for any team.
Often appears as...
- inept at
- inept handling
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Not suitable or appropriate, not the right type for a purpose.
His inept remarks were not well received by the audience.
Often appears as...
- inept comments
- inept strategy
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'inept' suggests a strong lack of skill, often embarrassing. Be cautious as it may offend.
The chef’s inept handling of the knife made everyone nervous.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid Overuse
'Inept' is strong; use it sparingly to avoid sounding too harsh or critical in regular conversations.
Labeling someone as 'inept' might damage their confidence.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Specific
Use 'inept' to describe skill in specific activities, not someone's entire personality or character.
He might be inept at painting, but he's a brilliant musician.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'inept' suggests a strong lack of skill, often embarrassing. Be cautious as it may offend.
The chef’s inept handling of the knife made everyone nervous.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid Overuse
'Inept' is strong; use it sparingly to avoid sounding too harsh or critical in regular conversations.
Labeling someone as 'inept' might damage their confidence.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Specific
Use 'inept' to describe skill in specific activities, not someone's entire personality or character.
He might be inept at painting, but he's a brilliant musician.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Using 'inept' suggests a strong lack of skill, often embarrassing. Be cautious as it may offend.
The chef’s inept handling of the knife made everyone nervous.
Pro Tip 2/3Avoid Overuse
'Inept' is strong; use it sparingly to avoid sounding too harsh or critical in regular conversations.
Labeling someone as 'inept' might damage their confidence.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Specific
Use 'inept' to describe skill in specific activities, not someone's entire personality or character.
He might be inept at painting, but he's a brilliant musician.
Never forget "Inept"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The wars that inspired...
York's criticism of their inept handling of the war against France led to his exclusion from court and transfer to Ireland. Meanwhile, mounting military failures, and corrupt rule by Margaret and her allies caused widespread discontent,
Video examples
How synthetic biology...
if suicidal mass murder hitches a ride on a rapidly advancing field that for the most part holds boundless promise for society. Somewhere out there in the world, there's a tiny group of people who would attempt, however ineptly,
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 348 PIPE...
and all be in this mess and it seems you back across to Steve good luck Tristan time no doubt the juma guards will allow you inept so you can keep up with the troupe of drummer who
Video examples
The wars that inspired...
York's criticism of their inept handling of the war against France led to his exclusion from court and transfer to Ireland. Meanwhile, mounting military failures, and corrupt rule by Margaret and her allies caused widespread discontent,
Video examples
How synthetic biology...
if suicidal mass murder hitches a ride on a rapidly advancing field that for the most part holds boundless promise for society. Somewhere out there in the world, there's a tiny group of people who would attempt, however ineptly,
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 348 PIPE...
and all be in this mess and it seems you back across to Steve good luck Tristan time no doubt the juma guards will allow you inept so you can keep up with the troupe of drummer who
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
Young people have this almost romantic attachment to civil rights, liberties, emancipating people from oppression, etc. The idea that such oppression exists in this country offends me, but it's able to be pushed and sold because education in this country is so woefully incompetent and inept.
Quote examples
Oscar Wilde
Irish Poet
Literature must rest always on a principle, and temporal considerations are no principle at all. For, to the poet, all times and places are one; the stuff he deals with is eternal and eternally the same: no theme is inept, no past or present preferable.
Quote examples
Eric Church
American Musician
I don't really get into that whole red-blue-conservative-liberal because I can't tell them apart. They all seem inept. So, for me, it's not something I focus on at all. I probably should be more political than I am. I just don't care.
Quote examples
Kristan Higgins
American Novelist
You know what I loved about 'Sideways'? Well, the wine, of course. But it was one of the few movies in which being a writer was realistically depicted. I loved how the Paul Giamatti character tries so ineptly to talk about his book.
Quote examples
Neal Stephenson
American Writer
One of the most frightening things about your true nerd, for may people, is not that he's socially inept - because everybody's been there - but rather his complete lack of embarrassment about it.
Quote examples
Douglas Adams
English Writer
My absolute favourite piece of information is the fact that young sloths are so inept that they frequently grab their own arms and legs instead of tree limbs, and fall out of trees.
Quote examples
Julian Barratt
English Comedian
Performers often can be quite socially inept, you know? And even great comedians are like that.
Quote examples
Jimmy Iovine
American Producer
Most technology companies are culturally inept. They're never going to get curation right.
Quote examples
John Layfield
American Businessman
I just don't think our best are in politics. I think these guys are inept.
Quote examples
Rufus Wainwright
Canadian Musician
After years of hotels, I'm horribly inept at cleaning up after myself.
Quote examples
Rush Limbaugh
American Entertainer
Young people have this almost romantic attachment to civil rights, liberties, emancipating people from oppression, etc. The idea that such oppression exists in this country offends me, but it's able to be pushed and sold because education in this country is so woefully incompetent and inept.
Quote examples
Oscar Wilde
Irish Poet
Literature must rest always on a principle, and temporal considerations are no principle at all. For, to the poet, all times and places are one; the stuff he deals with is eternal and eternally the same: no theme is inept, no past or present preferable.
Quote examples
Eric Church
American Musician
I don't really get into that whole red-blue-conservative-liberal because I can't tell them apart. They all seem inept. So, for me, it's not something I focus on at all. I probably should be more political than I am. I just don't care.
Quote examples
Kristan Higgins
American Novelist
You know what I loved about 'Sideways'? Well, the wine, of course. But it was one of the few movies in which being a writer was realistically depicted. I loved how the Paul Giamatti character tries so ineptly to talk about his book.
Quote examples
Neal Stephenson
American Writer
One of the most frightening things about your true nerd, for may people, is not that he's socially inept - because everybody's been there - but rather his complete lack of embarrassment about it.
Quote examples
Douglas Adams
English Writer
My absolute favourite piece of information is the fact that young sloths are so inept that they frequently grab their own arms and legs instead of tree limbs, and fall out of trees.
Quote examples
Julian Barratt
English Comedian
Performers often can be quite socially inept, you know? And even great comedians are like that.
Quote examples
Jimmy Iovine
American Producer
Most technology companies are culturally inept. They're never going to get curation right.
Quote examples
John Layfield
American Businessman
I just don't think our best are in politics. I think these guys are inept.
Quote examples
Rufus Wainwright
Canadian Musician
After years of hotels, I'm horribly inept at cleaning up after myself.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension