What does incompetent mean?
Word: Incompetent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Incompetent means not having the skill or knowledge to do a job or task well.
Synonyms: inept
Antonyms: capable
How do you spell incompetent?
Syllables: in - com - pe - tent
Tricky part: The ending is ent, not ant; the last vowel is barely heard, so incompetant is a common slip.
Watch out for: incompetant, incompetint
Memory tip: Someone incompetent at a task lacks the talent for it so far, and incompetent ends with the same three letters as talent.
Incompetent in a sentence
Example 1: The incompetent repair left the kitchen tap dripping even faster than before.
Example 2: Feeling incompetent on your first day at the ice rink is normal, since everyone wobbles at first.
Example 3: The robot proved incompetent at folding towels and tied them into knots instead.
Fun Fact
The in- at the start means 'not', just as it does in incorrect, invisible and inactive.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
incompetent
a) awkward
b) skilful
c) careless
d) clumsy
Show answer
b) skilful. Clumsy, awkward and careless all describe doing things badly, while skilful means doing them well.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) impatient
b) incompetent
c) inocent
d) inefficient
Show answer
c) inocent. Innocent needs a double n near the start.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
inc_mp_tent
a) o, i
b) u, i
c) a, e
d) o, e
Show answer
d) o, e. The middle part is spelt like compass at the start, and an e follows the p.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
incommpetent
a) p
b) m
c) o
d) c
Show answer
b) m. Only one m sits in the middle of the word.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which sentence describes someone being incompetent at a task?
a) The new waiter kept bringing everyone the wrong dishes.
b) The pilot landed the plane smoothly in the rain.
c) The baker's bread came out golden every single time.
d) The coach explained the rules clearly and calmly.
Show answer
a) The new waiter kept bringing everyone the wrong dishes.
2. If a builder is incompetent, the house he builds is likely to ___.
a) win a prize for its clever design
b) have crooked walls and a leaky roof
c) be finished well before the deadline
d) stand strong for hundreds of years
Show answer
b) have crooked walls and a leaky roof
