Inept

Adjective

Definition: Lacking skill or ability; incompetent.

Synonyms: Unskilled, Clumsy, Incapable

Antonyms: Adept, Skilled, Competent

Examples:

The new hire was completely inept and made numerous mistakes.
His inept handling of the situation only made matters worse.

Mnemonics:

Think of "in" as negative, making "inept" mean not skilled.

Etymology:

Origin:

Inept comes from the Latin word "ineptus," which means "unsuitable" or "unfit."

Historical Usage:

The word has been used in English since the mid-17th century with its current meaning of lacking skill or ability.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Like a bull in a china shop"

Explanation:

Describing someone who is clumsy, awkward, or careless in their actions.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Inept is only related to physical clumsiness.

Explanation:

While inept can be used to describe physical clumsiness, it can also refer to a lack of skill or ability in other areas, such as mental or social skills.