UNFIT Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

unfit

adjective

ˌən-ˈfit

Definition of unfit

as in unfitted

lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job just because I don't have actual work experience doesn't mean I'm unfit for the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unsuitable

not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation those flimsy shoes are unfit for the hike we're about to take

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of unfit Perhaps the hawks will realize that their preferred policy was wrong, that regime change by airpower was impossible, and that Trump was unfit to lead in the first place. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 His mother, seven months pregnant with him, was deemed unfit to fly back to London from a family visit in New York City. — Sean Gregory, Time, 13 June 2026 Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the governor’s wife, said the investigation showed that Trump is unfit for office. — Sophie Austin, Fortune, 15 June 2026 Seeing no efforts to fix the issues, the city declared the property unsafe and unfit for human occupancy in March and immediately closed the site. — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfit

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfit

Adjective

Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.

— Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2025
The venerable American clan at the center of the narrator’s reminiscences are wholly unfitted to the modern world and no longer endowed with the fortune that one of them brought home long ago on clipper ships.

— Daniel Akst, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022

Definition of unfitted

Adjective

Drivers should avoid off-road detours or unpaved shortcuts suggested by map apps, as those routes can be dangerous and unsuitable for passenger and commercial vehicles, state officials said.

— Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 July 2026
The dogs were found to be living in unsuitable conditions, while the puppies were suffering from malnutrition, and a number of the dogs had additional medical conditions as well.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Definition of unsuitable

Adjective

Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
One of the lasting side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and our catastrophically incompetent response to it is the decrease in trust in public health experts and their advice.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of incompetent

Adjective

In some countries, such as Japan, tipping can even be viewed as awkward, inappropriate, and unnecessary as patrons eat, pay the bill, and simply leave.

— Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Some commenters felt the post was cringeworthy and inappropriate.

— Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adjective

Court documents show prosecutors accused Fontes of rape a victim incapable of giving consent because of the effect of alcohol, drugs, or other substances.

— Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
For most of his career, Huang has seemed constitutionally incapable of standing still.

— Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of incapable

Adjective

Also requested were documents related to a lawsuit, recently settled for $135,000, claiming Kramer had given an improper assessment of a property and retaliated against an employee who complained.

— Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Thus, the LLCs asserting objections to the alter ego findings as to the trusts were improper.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of improper

Adjective

Mods weren’t available at the start, making the game less configurable and leaving players unable to fix obvious bugs, such as the hugely erratic traffic AI.

— Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Errors of execution and discipline forced by the relentlessness of a French team stripped of many of its leading players meant New Zealand was unable to secure its win until the final minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026

Definition of unable

Browse Nearby Words

unfinished

unfit

unfitness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unfit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfit. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unfit

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on unfit

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes