🇵🇹Portuguese Source WordCode: PT

inepto

Pronunciation / Transliteration: iˈnɛptu

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Maladroit/ˌmæl.əˈdrɔɪt/
adjectiveCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #28450 frequency
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🇵🇹 Example Sentence in Portuguese:

"O diplomata teve uma atuação inepta durante as negociações."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Moving or acting with a lack of physical dexterity, grace, or coordination; clumsy.

    "His maladroit handling of the fragile vase caused it to slip and shatter on the floor."
  2. 2

    Characterized by a lack of tact, social skill, or judgment; inept in dealing with people or situations.

    "The politician's maladroit remarks during the press conference only escalated the public relations crisis."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Synonyms (3)
Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from French, combining 'mal-' (meaning bad or ill, from Latin 'male') and 'adroit' (meaning skillful, from Old French 'a droit' meaning 'to the right'). Entering the English language in the 17th century, it retained its core figurative sense of lacking adroitness or physical/social dexterity.

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