inapt

adjective

in·​apt (ˌ)i-ˈnapt How to pronounce inapt (audio)
Synonyms of inaptnext
: not apt:
a
: not suitable
an inapt analogy
b
: inept
inaptly
(ˌ)i-ˈnap(t)-lē How to pronounce inapt (audio)
adverb
inaptness
(ˌ)i-ˈnapt-nəs How to pronounce inapt (audio)
noun

Synonyms of inapt

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Examples of inapt in a Sentence

an inapt but well-meaning attempt to inject some humor into the proceedings a recruit who was utterly inapt for most soldierly duties, so he spent most of his time playing in the army band
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those are harsh analogies but not wholly inapt ones. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026 The precedent is inapt, not least because the media landscape then was different with far fewer news sources. — The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 25 July 2025 To have the dissenters hearken back to the 19th century and discourse about voting customs then was inapt, and the justice called them on it. — John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 1 July 2026 If the codes don’t do this, or do this poorly, the remainder of any statistical analysis is rendered inapt and misleading. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026 As should be clear from Carr’s manifestly inapt use of those labels, his agenda goes far beyond enforcing any particular FCC rule. — Jacob Sullum, Oc Register, 24 Mar. 2026 Beyond the application of arguably inapt legal and regulatory standards, technical and operational challenges may likewise hinder deAI adoption. — Charlyn Ho, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 The small, poor European countries without much need for national defense and with mostly homogeneous populations are inapt comparisons for the huge, sprawling, wildly diverse, rich and powerful United States. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1670, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inapt was circa 1670

Rhymes for inapt

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Browse Nearby Words

inappropriate
inapt
inaptitude
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Cite this Entry

“Inapt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inapt. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

inapt

adjective
in·​apt (ˈ)in-ˈapt How to pronounce inapt (audio)
: not suitable
an inapt comparison
inaptly
-ˈap-(t)lē How to pronounce inapt (audio)
adverb
inaptness
-ˈap(t)-nəs How to pronounce inapt (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on inapt

Nglish: Translation of inapt for Spanish Speakers

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