incompetently
incompetently — adverb
1. describing an action performed so poorly that the person doing it clearly lacks
describing an action performed so poorly that the person doing it clearly lacks the necessary training, experience, or natural ability to complete it correctly.
The kitchen was so incompetently managed that customers often received the wrong meal.
incompetently managed — adverb + passive verb
Dario played the violin so incompetently that the music teacher asked him to practise more.
verb + adverb: played incompetently
The whole training session was incompetently planned, so the new hires learned very little on their first day.
Jude incompetently assembled the bookshelf, leaving several screws loose on the floor.
- competently
direct opposite; with the necessary skill and ability
- ably
in a skilled and effective way; slightly more formal
文法句型
incompetently + past participle
verb + incompetently
用法筆記
Commonly modifies verbs that evaluate performance, such as manage, handle, write, perform, organize, or run. Frequently appears in passive constructions (was incompetently managed, were incompetently handled).
常見錯誤
incompetently — adjective
- incompetentlypositive
- more incompetentlycomparative
- most incompetentlysuperlative
1. not having the skills, ability, or qualities that are needed to do a job or perf
not having the skills, ability, or qualities that are needed to do a job or perform a task to an acceptable standard.
Aarav's boss called him incompetent after he lost the company's largest client.
predicative use: called him incompetent
The incompetent security guard let the thief walk straight past the front desk.
attributive use: incompetent + noun
The incompetent lawyer forgot to file the most important document before the deadline.
Heather felt completely incompetent when she could not answer her students' questions about the topic.
文法句型
be incompetent
incompetent + noun
用法筆記
Describes a person, not an object or machine. The uncountable noun incompetence is more common in formal or written English.
常見錯誤
2. unable to perform a necessary physical function or operate correctly — used espe
unable to perform a necessary physical function or operate correctly — used especially for body parts, body systems, or mechanical systems that fail to work as expected.
The doctor explained that the patient's heart valve had become incompetent and needed surgery.
medical sense: incompetent heart valve
The doctor found that a valve in Mrs. Chen's leg veins was incompetent, causing her ankle to swell painfully.
The specialist found that one kidney valve was incompetent and needed immediate treatment.
Dr. Patel told the patient that her mitral valve was incompetent and recommended surgery to replace it.
- faulty
more common for machines and devices; suggests a manufacturing or design flaw
- defective
similar to faulty; emphasises that something does not work as designed
- insufficient
broader; suggests something does not meet a required standard
- functional
working correctly; the opposite of defective or incompetent
- competent
in medical use, the direct antonym (competent heart valve)
文法句型
become incompetent
prove incompetent
用法筆記
In medicine, incompetent describes a valve or organ that cannot close or function properly (e.g. incompetent cervix, incompetent heart valve). For machines and systems, faulty or defective is more common in everyday English.
常見錯誤
3. lacking the legal capacity, mental ability, or qualifications that the law requi
lacking the legal capacity, mental ability, or qualifications that the law requires — for example, to manage one's own affairs, sign a contract, or stand trial.
The judge declared the elderly man legally incompetent to manage his own finances.
legal phrase: declared legally incompetent
Mizuki's grandmother was found mentally incompetent, and a guardian was appointed by the court.
After the stroke, the court declared Wei's uncle mentally incompetent, so his daughter took over all financial decisions.
Because of severe depression, the defence lawyer argued their client was incompetent to stand trial.
- incapacitated
broader; can include physical inability, not just legal capacity
- disqualified
often temporary or procedural; losing eligibility by rule or law rather than mental condition
文法句型
declared incompetent
found incompetent
mentally incompetent
legally incompetent
用法筆記
A formal legal term. A person declared incompetent may lose the right to make financial, medical, or contractual decisions. Frequently paired with the adverbs legally, mentally, or physically.
常見錯誤
incompetently — noun
1. a person who does not have the needed ability, skill, or training to do a job or
a person who does not have the needed ability, skill, or training to do a job or task properly.
The director decided to fire the incompetents and hire properly trained staff instead.
plural: the incompetents
Roya called her colleague an incompetent after he missed three important deadlines in one month.
countable: an incompetent
Andrei described his former boss as a hopeless incompetent who never met a single deadline.
The office was full of incompetents who spent more time chatting than finishing their work.
- expert
a person with a high level of skill and knowledge
- professional
someone who is properly trained and does high-quality work
文法句型
a(n) + incompetent
the + incompetents (plural)
用法筆記
This noun use of incompetent (adjective → noun) is less common than the adjective and carries a strongly negative tone. The uncountable noun incompetence is more neutral and formal.