Synonyms
Examples of incompetence in a Sentence
Because of his incompetence, we won't make our deadline.
She was fired for gross incompetence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bulger's death was the result of multiple layers of management failures, widespread incompetence and flawed policies at the Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Justice Department's watchdog found in a 2022 report.
—
CBS News, 6 Sep. 2024
Their incompetence amounts to institutional mistreatment of special-needs children.
—Roger Ruvolo, Orange County Register, 5 Aug. 2024
The expectation of a 48 percent increase in one year in any government budget only goes to demonstrate the total incompetence by Tony.
—Alvin Pollock, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024
Hear her response 02:49 - Source: CNN Still, other right-wing figures blamed DEI initiatives for incompetence at the federal agency led by Cheatle, only the second woman to head the Secret Service.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 17 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for incompetence 
CBS News, 6 Sep. 2024
Their incompetence amounts to institutional mistreatment of special-needs children.
—Roger Ruvolo, Orange County Register, 5 Aug. 2024
The expectation of a 48 percent increase in one year in any government budget only goes to demonstrate the total incompetence by Tony.
—Alvin Pollock, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024
Hear her response 02:49 - Source: CNN Still, other right-wing figures blamed DEI initiatives for incompetence at the federal agency led by Cheatle, only the second woman to head the Secret Service.
—Hadas Gold, CNN, 17 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for incompetence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incompetence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near incompetence
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetence. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incompetence
noun
in·com·pe·tence
(ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ən(t)s 
: the quality, state, or fact of being incompetent
Medical Definition
incompetence
noun
in·com·pe·tence
(ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ən(t)s
1
: lack of legal qualification
2
: inability of an organ or part to perform its function adequately
incompetence of an aortic valve
Legal Definition
incompetence
noun
in·com·pe·tence
in-ˈkäm-pə-təns
: the state or fact of being incompetent compare competency
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