Incompetent
Lacking the necessary skill, ability, or competence to perform a task well; not capable.
adjectiveIncompetent
Lacking the necessary skill, ability, or competence to perform a task well; not capable.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a new intern who is asked to assemble a bookshelf. He misreads the instructions, uses a hammer on a screw, and the shelf wobbles; by the end, the manager notes that he is incompetent for the task.
Sounds Like
in-KOM-puh-tuhnt
Looks Like
in + competent; the word visually resembles 'competent' with the negative prefix 'in-' in front.
Remember This
Recall that the prefix 'in-' means not, and 'competent' means able; together, incompetent means not able or not having the required ability.
Other Forms
Connect With
competent, capable, inept, unskilled, unqualified, incapable
Note
Used to describe performance in a specific task or area, not a global judgment of intelligence. Be careful not to insult someone as a person—often refers to a particular skill or job.