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unskillful

unskillful

1 4.4
Not able to do something well
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈskɪl.fəl/
translation icon : inexperto
  • And it does have an interest in reducing the amount of unengaging post "spam" that unskillful marketers put up.

And then from that confusion arises actions that are inappropriate or unskillful or harmful or unkind.

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Examples

  • And then from that confusion arises actions that are inappropriate or unskillful or harmful or unkind.

  • The DPP government has shown its goodwill to Beijing in a very unskillful way.

    Academic text (2002)
  • At worst, the term means an unskillful use of rhetorical figures.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The romance writers aren't unskillful, either.

    Blog text (16)
  • And then from that confusion arises actions that are inappropriate or unskillful or harmful or unkind.

  • It only redistributes from the unlucky and unskillful to the lucky and skillful.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Now this overdone, though it make the unskillful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve - the censure of which one must in your allowance outweigh a whole theatre of others.

  • Her unskillful attempts at painting led her to seek professional lessons.

  • He felt embarrassed about his unskillful handling of the situation during the meeting.

  • The team lost the match due to their unskillful play in critical moments.

Synonyms

weak
vsunskillful
143 1.4

Not good at a skill or easily influenced by others

is about poor execution rather than low mental traits
incompetent
vsunskillful
141 4.9

Not able to do a job or task well

is about poor or inept execution rather than overall job fitness
inept
vsunskillful
49 5.0

Not good at something and often clumsy

describes poor performance without stressing clumsiness or awkwardness
hopeless
vsunskillful
31 1.6

Not able to do something well

means performing poorly generally, not only inability in one activity
untrained
vsunskillful
31 3.4

Having no teaching or practice to do a task well

refers to doing things poorly regardless of training history
talentless
vsunskillful
9 4.3

A person or thing that cannot do something well

refers to poor performance regardless of natural aptitude
unskilled
vsunskillful
6 2.9

Having no ability or training to do something well

focuses on poor execution rather than formal absence of qualification
untalented
vsunskillful
6 3.4

Not good at an activity

focuses on doing things poorly rather than absence of natural gift
unpracticed
vsunskillful
1 6.0

Not experienced at doing something

covers poor performance generally, not only from lack of practice
undertrained
vsunskillful
1 5.7

A person or group who does not have enough skills for a job

describes poor results broadly, not specifically from inadequate training
inexpert
vsunskillful
1 6.5

Not skilled at a task or subject

is broader, referring to poor performance rather than missing expertise
unaccomplished
vsunskillful
1 4.8

Has little skill or experience in a particular activity

focuses on crude or poor performance without stressing lack of refinement
unfledged
vsunskillful
1 9.5

Inexperienced and not fully trained, often a young person or group

describes poor execution itself rather than developmental immaturity
unartful
vsunskillful
1 7.4

Has little skill and looks clumsy

describes poor or clumsy work without implying lack of cleverness
lubberly
vsunskillful
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Seems clumsy and awkward in movement, often like someone new at sea

is broader, meaning done poorly in any way not just movement
nonproficient
vsunskillful
7.2

Not having enough skill in a subject or activity

is more general, highlighting poor performance rather than a measured deficit
non-skilled
vsunskillful
4.0

Not trained and not able to do a particular job

is wider, stressing poor or inept performance rather than job class
butcherly
vsunskillful
9.5

Done in a rough, clumsy way that shows little skill

covers general poor performance without stressing crude brutality
botchy
vsunskillful
  • Informal
8.4

Made in a clumsy way and not of good quality

refers to being poor or inept without emphasizing untidy workmanship

Antonyms

34 2.8

Good at doing something because of practice and careful control

How Skillful

expert
3 3.5
skillful
34 2.8
competent
114 3.6
unskillful
1 4.4
inept
49 5.0

Surface Forms

unskillful positive
unskillfuler comparative
unskillfulest superlative

Morphology

unskillful = skillful (transparent) = un + skill + ful

The word 'unskillful' is transparently derived from 'skillful' by adding the prefix 'un-' to indicate the lack of skill.

Etymology

Unskillful is made from the negative un- meaning 'not' and skillful, which comes from skill, a word for 'ability' or 'how to do something' that goes back to an old Norse word for understanding. So, unskillful means 'not having skill' and describes something done poorly.