ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Incompetent

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ɪnˈkɒmpətənt/ · Part of speech adjective

Quick meaning: Incompetent is an adjective meaning Lacking the degree of ability and responsibility necessary to do a task successfully.

Meaning

Lacking the degree of ability and responsibility necessary to do a task successfully.

More Meanings

  1. Unable to make rational decisions; insane or otherwise cognitively impaired.
  2. (medicine, of the cervix) Opening too early during pregnancy, resulting in miscarriage or premature birth.
  3. (geology) Not resistant to deformation or flow.
  4. A person who is incompetent.

Example Sentences

Near-synonyms: incapable, inable, unable
Near-synonyms: dysfunctional, nonfunctioning
The charged was judged incompetent to stand trial, at least until his medication started working.
Many Gazans scorn Fatah as corrupt and incompetent, and they dislike Hamas's overzealousness and repression.

Word Forms

Synonyms for incompetent

Depending on context, synonyms include noncompetent, uncompetent, inept, ineffective, abysmal, atrocious.

Antonyms for incompetent

Common opposites include competent, capable, able, artful, habile, accomplished.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include inept, inadequate, inefficient, ineffective, unskilled, feckless.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.