rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryincompetentLacking ability
adjective / noun

incompetent

in-KAHM-puh-tunt/ɪnˈkɑːmpɪtənt/

Lacking the capacity required for an action.

The incompetent assembler struggles with a stool whose legs splay unevenly.

An unsuccessful furniture assembler struggles with a visibly botched stool: its legs splay unevenly, its braces are misaligned, and several bent nails show repeated failed attempts.
Etymology
inLatinnot
+competentLatinto coincide, agree

Competere's sense of agreeing or coinciding underlies the idea of being suitable or meeting requirements. With the negative prefix, the word first meant insufficient and then specifically lacking the ability or qualifications needed.

In context

StardustTV25:10
If they eat porridge mixed with sand, they will surely curse the court for being corrupt and call your majesty an incompetent ruler.
【ENG DUB】Useless noble? He drained a kingdom's treasury with one scam.

More examples

  • He is incompetent at even basic bookkeeping.
  • The judge finds him incompetent to stand trial.
  • We cannot trust an incompetent to manage the budget.

Forms

incompetent · incompetents

incompetence noun — Lack of required skill or legal capacity.

incompetently adverb — Without the skill needed to perform adequately.

Similar words

incapable
Emphasizes inability to act, rather than poor performance.
unqualified
Lacks required credentials or experience, not necessarily practical ability.
inept
Emphasizes clumsy or ineffective performance, especially in practical tasks.