incompetent Hear it!

incompetent Definition

in·com·pe·tent (in käm′pə tənt)

adjective

  1. without adequate ability, knowledge, fitness, etc.; failing to meet requirements; incapable; unskillful
  2. not legally qualified
  3. lacking strength and sufficient flexibility to transmit pressure, thus breaking or flowing under stress: said of rock structures

Etymology: Fr incompétent < LL incompetens: see in- & competent

noun

an incompetent person; esp., one who is mentally deficient

incompetent Related Forms
in·com′·pe·tence noun or in·com′·pe·tency in·com′·pe·tently adverb
incompetent Synonyms

incompetent

modif.

incapable, inefficient, inept, unskillful, inadequate, unfit, unskilled, unqualified, disqualified, bungling, inexpert, floundering, ineffectual, unsuitable, untrained, maladroit, unhandy, clumsy, awkward, uninitiated, raw, inexperienced, unequipped, unadapted, not equal to, amateurish; see also unable.

Antonyms able*, fit, qualified.

incompetent Law Definition

adj

  1. Of evidence, that it is not admissible.
  2. Of a witness, that he or she is not permitted to testify, on the grounds that his or her testimony is not relevant or is subject to some other disqualification.
incompetent Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • make: The discouraged intellect may feel itself utterly incompetent to make anything at all of such concepts.
  • consent: A person cannot be deemed incompetent to consent to any transaction purely on the basis that they have an intellectual impairment.

Modifies a noun

  • buffoon: I have to say, the men seem to be incompetent buffoons.
  • fool: Are you merely the pair of incompetent fools that you seem, or is there something more sinister behind your actions?
  • bunch: They are an absolutely incompetent bunch or probable liars.
  • handling: He said the Conservatives incompetent handling of the social services budget was behind the rise.
  • politician: This desire for control has been undermined by inequitable trading relationships, corrupt, incompetent politicians and repressive states.
  • patient: An incompetent patient refuses treatment Mrs Y is 56 years old.

Modifying Another Word

  • administratively: They said the obvious things - the CSA continues to be the most administratively incompetent government agency in living memory.
  • grossly: BT is, in my opinion, grossly incompetent.
  • mentally: The mother of the girl was told that she was denied an account because she was " mentally incompetent.
  • hopelessly: Only, they turn out to be hopelessly incompetent at that task too.
  • utterly: The discouraged intellect may feel itself utterly incompetent to make anything at all of such concepts.
  • technically: I operated the camera and I guarantee that you'll not see a more technically incompetent film.

Used with adjective complement

  • feel: You: Is there anything else about feeling incompetent?
  • become: Now once they know that this is the case they become consciously incompetent.
  • look: His fear of looking incompetent in front of neighbors should get him into action.
  • prove: The big institutions that own the vast majority of the shares in Railtrack have been proven incompetent once again.
  • seem: They seem so incompetent it is almost tempting to believe them!
  • deem: A person cannot be deemed incompetent to consent to any transaction purely on the basis that they have an intellectual impairment.
incompetent Quotes

   Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

—Shaw, George Bernard

Until a woman is free to be as incompetent as the average male then she will never be completely equal.

—Cunningham, Roseanna

'Good-morning; good-morning!'the General said When we met him last weekon our way to the line. Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead, And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine. 'He's a cheery old card,'grunted Harry to Jack As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack. But he did for them both by his plan of attack.

—Sassoon, Siegfried Louvain

I wish the Government would put a tax on pianos for the incompetent. 794

—Sitwell, Dame Edith Louisa