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inept - 4 dictionary results

in⋅ept

  [in-ept, i-nept]
Use inept in a Sentence
–adjective
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.
Origin:
1595–1605; < L ineptus, equiv. to in- in- 3 + -eptus, comb. form of aptus apt

Related forms:
in⋅ept⋅ly, adverb
in⋅ept⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. unskillful, bungling. 4. stupid, pointless, inane.

Antonyms:
1. suited.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To inept
in·ept   (ĭn-ěpt')   
adj.  
  1. Not apt or fitting; inappropriate.
    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.]
in·ept'ly adv., in·ept'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Inept

In*ept"\, a. [L. ineptus; prefix. in- not + aptus apt, fit: cf. F. inepte. Cf. Inapt.]

1. Not apt or fit; unfit; unsuitable; improper; unbecoming.

The Aristotelian philosophy is inept for new discoveries. --Glanvill.

2. Silly; useless; nonsensical; absurd; foolish.

To view attention as a special act of intelligence, and to distinguish it from consciousness, is utterly inept. --Sir W. Hamilton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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inept 
1603, from Fr. inepte (14c.), from L. ineptus "unsuitable, improper, tactless," from in- "not" + aptus "apt" (see apt).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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