Synonyms and Antonyms of inept
1
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
- a well-meaning but inept secretary who can't seem to keep the boss's appointments straight
ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient
amateurish, callow, dilettantish, green, inexperienced, raw, unprofessional
unequipped, unprepared, untrained
useless, worthless
disqualified, ineligible
wanting
prepared, ready, trained
overqualified
accomplished, ace, adept, consummate, crack, experienced, practiced (also practised), seasoned, veteran, virtuoso
all-around (also all-round), protean, versatile
2
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
- an inept comparison between nursing-home residents and day-care children that many found offensive
amiss, graceless, improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, incorrect, indecorous, infelicitous, malapropos, perverse, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward, wrong
inopportune, unfortunate, unseasonable, untimely
extraneous, immaterial, inapplicable, irrelative, irrelevant
misbecoming, mismatched
incompatible, inconsistent, uncongenial
bad, naughty, sinful
blamable, blameworthy, censurable
banned, barred, disallowed
forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed
awkward, gauche, ungraceful
unacceptable, unsatisfactory
fortunate, opportune, seasonable, timely
applicable, apposite, apropos, apt, germane, material, pat, pointed, relative, relevant
compatible, congenial, harmonious
allowed, authorized, permitted
approved, endorsed (also indorsed), kosher, licensed, sanctioned
abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported
acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK (or okay), passable, respectable, satisfactory, tolerable
commendable, creditable, exemplary
blameless, irreproachable
balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious
