ineptness
[ˌɪnˈɛptnɪs] /-p(t)nə̇s How to pronounce ineptness (audio)/ (ame, mw)
ineptness — noun
1. a clear lack of skill, judgement, or the right qualities for a task, so that a p
a clear lack of skill, judgement, or the right qualities for a task, so that a person or thing handles it badly.
The rescue team's ineptness with the radio left hikers waiting all night for help.
pattern: ineptness with + equipment
Walid groaned at his own ineptness after gluing the shelf upside down.
common possessive pattern: someone's ineptness
The clerk's ineptness in packing the vase left glass all over the kitchen floor.
Parents blamed the office's ineptness after the school bus skipped Mira's stop again.
The judge called the firm's paperwork a case of pure ineptness, not bad luck.
- incompetence
near-synonym; often used for failing in a role or job
- ineptitude
very close in meaning, but slightly more literary in tone
- clumsiness
narrower when it focuses on awkward physical movement
- unskillfulness
more neutral and less strongly critical
- competence
having the ability to do something properly
- skill
general practical ability
- proficiency
a higher level of practiced ability
文法句型
ineptness at + noun/-ing
ineptness in + noun/-ing
ineptness with + noun
用法筆記
Usually uncountable and often used after a possessive or in patterns such as 'ineptness at/in + activity'. Formal and strongly critical, often implying mistakes that should have been avoided.