as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the astounding incompetence of the new assistant
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Recent Examples of incompetence
The spin that is being used to try to defend this act of incompetence is nothing short of absurd.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
This is just an unbelievable cocktail of incompetence and [an] awful handling of critical information.
—Destinee Adams, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
During the first Trump Administration, there often was a lot of incompetence.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Nothing will alter The Electric State’s disorienting, tone-deaf incompetence.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
This is just an unbelievable cocktail of incompetence and [an] awful handling of critical information.
—Destinee Adams, NPR, 26 Mar. 2025
During the first Trump Administration, there often was a lot of incompetence.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Nothing will alter The Electric State’s disorienting, tone-deaf incompetence.
—Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetence. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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