incompetent

Definitions

1. adjective

   Lacking the degree of ability and responsibility necessary to do a task successfully.

   Examples

   • Near-synonyms: incapable, inable, unable
   • Having an incompetent lawyer may be grounds for a retrial, but the lawyer in question probably doesn't know that.
   ≈noncompetent≈uncompetent≈inept≈ineffective≈abysmal +95 more
2. adjective

   Unable to make rational decisions; insane or otherwise cognitively impaired.

   Example

   • The charged was judged incompetent to stand trial, at least until his medication started working.
3. adjective

   Opening too early during pregnancy, resulting in miscarriage or premature birth.

   Example

   • Near-synonyms: dysfunctional, nonfunctioning
   ≈dysfunctional≈nonfunctioning
4. adjective

   Not resistant to deformation or flow.

5. noun

   A person who is incompetent.

   Examples

   • But besides these incompetents, there was always a train of camp followers, -women who followed the camp, beggars, and criminals, whose number was often greater than the number of fighting soldiers.
   • "Lies!" said the tallest of the sons of Ivaldi. "I wouldn't trust those fumble-fingered incompetents to shoe a horse."