inept

(ĭn-ĕpt')
adj.

1. Not apt or fitting; inappropriate.
2. 1. Displaying a lack of judgment, sense, or reason; foolish: an inept remark.
   2. Bungling or clumsy; incompetent: inept handling of the account.

[Latin ineptus : in-, not; see in-¹ + aptus, suitable; see apt.]

ineptly in·ept'ly adv.
ineptness in·ept'ness n.

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adjective

1. Not suited to circumstances: improper, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, malapropos, unapt, unbecoming, unbefitting, unfit, unseemly, unsuitable. Idioms: out of place. See agree/disagree, usual/unusual.
2. Characterized by inappropriateness and gracelessness, especially in expression: awkward, ill-chosen, inappropriate, infelicitous, unfortunate, unhappy. See ability/inability, good/bad.
3. Lacking the qualities, as efficiency or skill, required to produce desired results: inapt, incapable, incompetent, inefficient, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful, unworkmanlike. See ability/inability.
4. Clumsily lacking in the ability to do or perform: awkward, bumbling, clumsy, gauche, heavy-handed, maladroit, unskillful. See ability/inability.
5. Lacking dexterity and grace in physical movement: awkward, clumsy, gawky, graceless, lumpish, maladroit, ungainly, ungraceful. Slang klutzy. Idioms: all thumbs. See ability/inability.

adj

Definition: clumsy, unskilled; incompetent
Antonyms: able, adroit, competent, dexterous, fit, skilled, skillful

adj

Definition: not suitable; improper
Antonyms: acceptable, proper, suitable

IN BRIEF: Unskillful; or not fit or suitable.

Many are saved from sin by being so inept at it. — Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist.

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sign description: The thumb of the A-handshape is stuck in the fist of the left hand. The fingers of the A-hand then rotate back and open up.

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For a list of words related to inept, see:

• Weak, Fearful, or Anxious
• Ordinary, Dull, Plain, or Banal

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See words rhyming with "inept."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Inept.

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - kejtet, kluntet, malplaceret, uduelig

Nederlands (Dutch)
onhandig, onbeholpen, ongepast

Français (French)
adj. - inepte, déplacé, mal à propos

Deutsch (German)
adj. - ungeschickt, albern, unpassend

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - άτοπος, εκτός τόπου και χρόνου, ανόητος, ανίκανος, ανάρμοστος

Italiano (Italian)
maldestro, inetto

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - inepto

Русский (Russian)
неподходящий, неумелый, бессмысленный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - inepto, incompetente, incapaz, improcedente, impropio

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - orimlig, dum, löjlig, oduglig, olämplig, klumpig

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
不适当的, 笨拙的, 无能的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 不適當的, 笨拙的, 無能的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 부적당한, 서투른, 어리석은

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 的外れの, 場違いの, ばかげた, 無能の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) غير ملائم, أحمق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮שטותי, לא מתאים, בלתי-מוכשר, אבסורד, מגושם‬

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