What are some opposite words for competent?

Antonyms for competent
ˈkɒm pɪ təntcom·pe·tent

This page is about all possible antonyms and opposite words for the term competent.

English Synonyms and Antonyms5.0 / 1 vote

  1. competent

    Adequate, commensurate, and sufficient signify equal to some given occasion or work; as, a sum sufficient to meet expenses; an adequate remedy for the disease. Commensurate is the more precise and learned word, signifying that which exactly measures the matter in question. Adapted, fit, suitable, and qualified refer to the qualities which match or suit the occasion. A clergyman may have strength adequate to the work of a porter; but that would not be a fit or suitable occupation for him. Work is satisfactory if it satisfies those for whom it is done, though it may be very poor work judged by some higher standard. Qualified refers to acquired abilities; competent to both natural and acquired; a qualified teacher may be no longer competent, by reason of ill health. Able and capable suggest general ability and reserved power, able being the higher word of the two. An able man will do something well in any position. A capable man will come up to any ordinary demand. We say an able orator, a capable accountant.

    Antonyms:
    disqualified, inadequate, incompetent, inferior, insufficient, poor, unequal, unfit, unqualified, unsatisfactory, unsuitable, useless, worthless

    Synonyms:
    able, adapted, adequate, capable, commensurate, equal, fit, fitted, fitting, qualified, satisfactory, sufficient, suitable

    Preposition:
    Adequate to the demand; for the purpose.

Princeton's WordNet0.0 / 0 votes

  1. competentadjective

    properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

    "a competent typist"

    Antonyms:
    unworkmanlike, feckless, incompetent, inadequate, ineffective, inept, inefficient, unequal, unqualified

  2. competentadjective

    adequate for the purpose

    "a competent performance"

    Antonyms:
    ineffective, incompetent, unequal, inefficient, inadequate, inept, feckless, unqualified, unworkmanlike

  3. competentadjective

    legally qualified or sufficient

    "a competent court"; "competent testimony"

    Antonyms:
    ineffective, inefficient, unequal, incompetent, inadequate, unworkmanlike, inept, unqualified, feckless

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words2.0 / 2 votes

  1. competentadjective

    Antonyms:
    incompetent

    Synonyms:
    qualified, capable, efficient, proficient, able

How to use competent in a sentence?

  1. Unknown:

    People who are too concerned with how well they are doing will be less successful and feel less competent than those who focus on the task itself... Some psychologists call it a conflict between ego-orientation, or between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation... but in all cases, what counts is whether attention is turned away from the task at hand and focused on the self and its future rewards, or whether it is instead trained on the task itself. The latter attitude seems the more fruitful.

  2. Lee Simonson:

    Any event, once it has occurred, can be made to appear inevitable by a competent historian.

  3. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia:

    They come from lesser schools where they do not feel that they're being pushed ahead in classes that are too fast for them, i'm just not impressed by the fact that the University of Texas may have fewer. Maybe it ought to have fewer. And maybe some -- you know, when you take more, the number of blacks, really competent blacks, admitted to lesser schools, turns out to be less.

  4. William Au:

    My biggest takeaway after getting everyone home safe was how well the marine patrol airmen did. These are young airmen, barely 20 years old, just watching them do their tasks while coordinating with other agencies, while simultaneously caring for the victims, showed how competent and well-trained they are.

  5. Ahn Chan-il:

    Kim Jong Un wants to break away from the past, as well as the Norths traditional cult of personality, he wants to come across and brand himself as a leader who is modern and competent, rather than a descendant of his predecessors.

How to pronounce competent?

How to say competent in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

rankingword
#1711poor
#9018competent
#10208inadequate
#10226useless
#10242insufficient
#15200inferior
#17218ineffective
#20528unsatisfactory
#20769worthless
#20856inefficient
#24702unsuitable
#24911incompetent
#25409unequal
#26977disqualified
#29086unqualified
#29642unfit
#41493inept
#115658feckless

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