Incompetent
easyin-KOM-puh-tent
adjective
Definition
Not having or showing the necessary skills to do something successfully
Examples
“The incompetent mechanic damaged the engine further.”
“She was declared legally incompetent to stand trial.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Incompetent is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "inept" or "unskilled" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "competent".
Related GRE Words
inept
Having or showing no skill; clumsy
arduous
Requiring great effort; difficult and tiring
aesthetic
Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
resilient
Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough and flexible
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; unclear
antagonize
To cause someone to become hostile or angry
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