If you refer to someone's incompetence, you are criticizing them because they are unable to do their job or a task properly.
[disapproval]
The incompetence of government officials is appalling. [+ of]
...his incompetence in failing to conduct full inquiries.
Synonyms: ineptitude, inability, inadequacy, incapacity More Synonyms of incompetence
Examples of 'incompetence' in a sentence
incompetence
Now it seems I am unable to stay down out of sheer incompetence.
The Sun (2016)
His lawyers said the theft was part of the gross incompetence of officers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The result is general incompetence across government.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now national security has been added to economic incompetence as reasons to be afraid.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The stories of incompetence and corruption have been legion.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Are they really in a position to tell anyone off for greed and incompetence?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The public forgive a certain amount of incompetence from governments.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He says he has all sorts of documents proving incompetence and corruption in the courts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Most examples of government incompetence are quite obscure.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Government incompetence has put the safety of our citizens at risk yet again.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Yet almost none of the bankers who oversaw catastrophic incompetence and reckless greed costing the country billions faced the music.
The Sun (2016)
Sheer incompetence scheduled an afternoon meeting alongside nearby Kempton.
The Sun (2009)
This is gross incompetence and the senior police officer who left them behind on the train should be joining the dole queue today.
The Sun (2012)
He can provide mountains of evidence of waste, corruption and sheer incompetence by unaccountable officials.
The Sun (2012)
Less well known than the junta's brutality is its incompetence as an economic manager.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He ought to be removed by his people, not for war crimes but for gross incompetence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He stands accused of inflicting grievous harm on Britain through gross political and economic incompetence.
The Sun (2009)
There are two possible reasons: incompetence or corruption.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Modern MPs have lost our respect through their general incompetence and greed over the expenses scandal.
The Sun (2014)
By any measure of leadership, this amounts to gross incompetence.
The Sun (2012)
It was about sheer incompetence.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was an appalling catalogue of incompetence, lies and cover-ups.
The Sun (2016)
This does not in any way excuse the Coalition's sheer incompetence.
The Sun (2012)
To the terrible mix of concerns about economic incompetence and leadership that voters expressed at the last election, the party has now added national security.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
incompetence
British English: incompetence NOUN
If you refer to someone's incompetence, you are criticizing them because they are unable to do their job properly.
The incompetence of government officials is appalling.
American English: incompetence
Brazilian Portuguese: incompetência
Chinese: 无能
European Spanish: incompetencia
French: incompétence
German: Unfähigkeit
Italian: incompetenza
Japanese: 無能
Korean: 무능력
European Portuguese: incompetência
Latin American Spanish: incompetencia
Chinese translation of 'incompetence'
incompetence
(ɪnˈkɔmpɪtns)
n(u)
不胜(勝)任 (bù shèngrèn)
(noun)
The incompetence of government officials is appalling.
Synonyms
ineptitude
the tactical ineptitude of the commander
inability
Her inability to concentrate could cause an accident.
inadequacy
a deep-seated sense of inadequacy
incapacity
They have a total incapacity to laugh at themselves.
ineffectiveness
uselessness
insufficiency
ineptness
incompetency
unfitness
incapability
skill-lessness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inability
Definition
the fact of not being able to do something
Her inability to concentrate could cause an accident.
Synonyms
incapability,
incompetence,
inadequacy,
impotence,
incapacity,
ineptitude,
powerlessness,
ineffectiveness,
uselessness,
ineptness
in the sense of inadequacy
Definition
the state of being or feeling inferior
a deep-seated sense of inadequacy
Synonyms
incompetence,
inability,
deficiency,
incapacity,
ineffectiveness,
incompetency,
unfitness,
inefficacy,
defectiveness,
inaptness,
faultiness,
unsuitableness
in the sense of incapacity
Definition
lack of power, strength, or ability
They have a total incapacity to laugh at themselves.