adjective
inept
ih-NEHPT
adjective
1
Lacking skill; clumsy or incompetent at doing something.
"He made an inept attempt at fixing the leak and flooded the kitchen."
"The referee's inept handling of the match angered both teams."
2
Not suited to the situation; inappropriate.
"His joke was an inept remark to make at a funeral."
How to Use Inept
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBad at doing something, often in a way that's a bit embarrassing.
Common mistake
Stronger and more judgmental than unskilled — inept implies the person really should have managed better.
Common pairings
inept handling
wildly inept
inept at
Word Forms
more inept comparative, most inept superlative
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He made an _____ attempt at fixing the leak and flooded the kitchen.
Etymology
From French inepte, from Latin ineptus, "not fitting" — in- + aptus, the same root that gives English apt.