inept

inept (ɪnˈɛpt)

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

[C17: from Latin ineptus, from in-¹ + aptus fitting, suitable]

in'eptitude

—n

in'eptly

—*adv*

in'eptness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

inept

c.1600, from Fr. inepte (14c.), from L. ineptus "unsuitable, improper, tactless," from in- "not" + aptus "apt" (see apt).

Example sentences

Minority parties always look weak and inept in the penalty box.

Disappointing because it reinforces the notion that scientists are socially

inept and unconsciously repressed types.

By turns it has been inept and indecisive over this affair, while failing to

get anything else done either.

Baylor's offense looked disjointed and at times downright inept.

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Matching Quote

"What side of American life is not touched by this antithesis? What explanation of American life is more central or more illuminating? In everything one finds this frank acceptance of twin values which are not expected to have anything in common: on the one hand, a quite unclouded, quite unhypothetical assumption of aesthetic theory ("high ideals"), on the other a simultaneous acceptance of catchpenny realities. Between university ethics and business ethics, between American culture and American humour, between Good Government and Tammany, between academic pedantry and pavement slang, there is no community, no genial middle ground. The very accent of the words "Highbrow" and "Lowbrow" implies an instinctive perception that this is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. For both are used in a derogatory sense. The "Highbrow" is the superior person whose virtue is admitted but felt to be an inept unpalatable virtue; while the "Lowbrow" is a good fellow one readily takes to, but with a certain scorn for him and all his works."

-Van Wyck Brooks