2023-04-05 ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด I – Inapt & inept & unapt

Revision I

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Dictionary.com

ออกเสียง Inapt = ‘in-APT’

ออกเสียง inept = ‘in-EPT’ or ‘in-NEPT”

ออกเสียง unapt = ‘uhn-APT’

 

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree

inapt

unsuited; incapable; clumsy; inappropriate: 

His inapt response did not address the issue.

Not to be confused with:

inept – bungling; stupid; inane; foolish; unskillful: 

His inept handling of the ball cost them the game.

 

Dictionary of Problem Words and Expression

Inapt & inept & unapt

Inapt and inept mean 

“not apt,” “not fitting,” 

“without aptitude or capacity”:

“This person is inapt in computing the sales tax on purchases.”

“Tom is a good mechanic, but he is inept in keeping customers satisfied.”

Inapt and inept share such approximate synonyms 

as unsuited, inappropriate, awkward, and clumsy. 

The exact opposite (antonym) of inapt is capable; 

that of inept is suited, 

Inapt is more commonly used than inept 

in the meaning indicated above.

Unapt also has meaning of “inappropriate” and “unsuitable” 

but is more often used to mean “not likely” or ‘not disposed”: 

“The supervisor is unapt to let you leave early.”

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Choose the Right Synonym for inept

AWKWARD, CLUMSY, MALADROIT, INEPT, GAUCHE 

mean not marked by ease 

(as of performance, movement, or social conduct).

 

AWKWARD is widely applicable and may suggest 

unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.  

periods of awkward silence  

 

CLUMSY implies stiffness and heaviness 

and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, 

or lack of ordinary skill.  

a clumsy mechanic

  

MALADROIT suggests a tendency to 

create awkward situations.  

a maladroit politician 

 

INEPT often implies complete failure or inadequacy.  

a hopelessly inept defense attorney  

GAUCHE implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, 

or ill breeding.  

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties 

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Inept & Inapt

Inept and inapt may both be traced to the Latin aptus (“apt”), 

but since their adoption in English 

they have moved away from each other, 

semantically and orthographically. 

 

Inept is “generally bungling” 

or “lacking in fitness or aptitude"; 

 

unapt is “inappropriate” or “not accustomed and not likely.”

 

Both words may have the meaning of “inappropriate,” 

but when inept is used in this sense 

the precise meaning is 

“not suitable to the time, place, or occasion; 

“inappropriate often to an absurd degree.”