inept

UK: /ɪnˈɛpt/ US: /ɪnˈɛpt/ ,(in ept′, i nept′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ept /ɪnˈɛpt/   adj. 

1. lacking skill or ability; incompetent:
   inept handling of the crisis.
2. inappropriate;
   unsuitable;
   out of place:
   embarrassed by an inept remark.

in•ept•i•tude /ɪnˈɛptɪˌtud, -ˌtyud/  n. [uncountable]
in•ept•ly, adv. 
in•ept•ness, n. [uncountable] See -apt-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•ept  (in ept′, i nept′), adj. 

1. without skill or aptitude for a particular task or assignment;
   maladroit:
   He is inept at mechanical tasks. She is inept at dealing with people.
2. generally awkward or clumsy;
   haplessly incompetent.
3. inappropriate;
   unsuitable;
   out of place.
4. absurd or foolish:
   an inept remark.

• Latin ineptus, equivalent. to in- in-³ + -eptus, combining form of aptus apt
• 1595–1605

in•ept′ly, adv. 
in•ept′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. unskillful, bungling.
• 4. stupid, pointless, inane.

Antonyms

• 1. suited.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inept / ɪnˈɛpt/ adjective

1. awkward, clumsy, or incompetent
2. not suitable, appropriate, or fitting; out of place

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin ineptus, from in-¹ + aptus fitting, suitable

inˈeptiˌtude noun

inˈeptly adverb

inˈeptness noun