inept

Definitions

in- (not) + ept (the variant of apt/aptus inside a word) = "not fitted." An inept person doesn't fit the task: their efforts clumsily fail to match what the situation needs. The e instead of a marks where the prefix fused onto aptus — the same shift you see in adept.

Common Collocations

• 1.utterly inept完全无能
• 2.inept handling笨拙的处理
• 3.politically inept政治上笨拙
• 4.inept at不擅长

Example Sentences

• 1.

  His inept handling of the crisis cost the company millions.

• 2.

  The new manager proved utterly inept at motivating his team.

• 3.

  It was an inept attempt at humor that fell completely flat.

Easily Confused

inept vs incompetent — Both mean lacking ability, but inept stresses clumsy, bungling execution (an inept attempt), while incompetent is a colder, often formal judgment that someone is simply not qualified or able to do the job (an incompetent doctor). You can be a one-time inept; incompetent suggests a settled inability.