ineptitude
/ɪˈneptɪtjuːd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈneptɪtuːd/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)i-ˈnep-tə-ˌtüd -ˌtyüd/ (ame, mw)
ineptitude — noun
1. an obvious inability to do something competently, often shown through clumsy mis
an obvious inability to do something competently, often shown through clumsy mistakes that an average person would avoid.
Felipe's ineptitude at parallel parking left a long line of cars waiting on the street.
collocation: ineptitude at + activity (-ing)
The mayor was fired after years of ineptitude in handling the city's flood warnings.
collocation: ineptitude in + handling/managing
Critics blamed the team's defeat on the coach's ineptitude rather than the players' efforts.
Ife laughed at her own ineptitude in the kitchen after burning the rice again.
Sheer ineptitude, not bad luck, caused the bridge project to fail.
- incompetence
near-synonym; slightly more about lacking the required ability for a role or job
- clumsiness
stresses physical awkwardness rather than general lack of skill
- unskillfulness
neutral and formal; lacks the critical tone of 'ineptitude'
- competence
having the skill to do something properly
- proficiency
stronger antonym; high skill from practice
文法句型
ineptitude at + noun/-ing
ineptitude in + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Frequently uncountable and often paired with 'at' or 'in' plus an activity. Stronger and more critical than 'lack of skill' — implies the person should know better.