Reverse Dictionary: INCOMPETENCE

ADJECTIVES
► ABLELESS incompetent, careless, listless, awkward → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CAN’T FIND ONE’S ARSE WITH BOTH HANDS ► CAN’T FIND ONE’S ARSE WITH TWO HANDS ► CAN’T FIND ONE’S ASS WITH BOTH HANDS ► CAN’T FIND ONE’S ASS WITH TWO HANDS absolutely confused, totally incompetent → 20C sl.
► CHINLESS said of someone of weak character; incompetent, ineffectual → 1881 sl., orig. US
► CHUMPISH incompetent → 1888 US sl.
► CHUNKY of broad stout build; thickset → 1749 colloq.
► CRAP bad, inferior, of poor quality; unpleasant, displeasing; of a person: lacking ability, incompetent; unwell → 1936 sl.
► DRIPPY ineffectual, incompetent → 1947 sl., orig. US
► DROOBY ineffectual, incompetent; contemptible → 1972 Aust. sl.
► DUFFING incompetent, inept, stupid → 1869 colloq. obs.
► FART-ARSE ► FART-ARSED ► FART-ARSEING useless, incompetent → 1940s sl.
► FECKLESS lacking resourcefulness, incapable, incompetent, shiftless → a1774 orig. Sc.
► GUY-A-WHACK useless, incompetent → 20C Aust. sl.
► HAIVELESS wasteful, incompetent; slovenly, ill-mannered, unrefined → 1871 Sc.
► HALF-ARSE ► HALF-ARSED ► HALF-ASS ► HALF-ASSED careless, inadequate, inferior, unsatisfactory, ineffectual, incompetent, second-rate → 1865 US sl.
► HALF-BAKED incompetent, inadequate, below standard → E16
► HAM ineffectual, incompetent → 1941 sl.
► HANDLESS incapable or incompetent with the hands, or in action; awkward, clumsy → 1413 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► HARRY TATE said of something incompetent or disorderly → 1925 Brit. sl.
► HAVELESS wasteful, incompetent; slovenly, ill-mannered, unrefined → 1871 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► HOPELESS ineffectual, incompetent → 1922 sl.
► INSUFFISANT insufficient; not sufficing; incompetent → 1387 obs.
► JACK-LEG ineffectual, incompetent; amateur, untrained; said of someone without skill or training → 1850 US sl.
► JIM CROW incompetent; small-time; fraudulent → 1838 Amer. dial.
► JITNEY incompetent, inferior → 1920 Amer. dial.
► LAME socially unsophisticated; naive; ‘square’; hence, easily imposed upon; stupid; inept; ineffectual; incompetent; unaware; inexperienced → 1935 US sl., esp. African-American
► MATTERLESS incapable; incompetent; helpless; shiftless → 1794 Eng. dial.
► MUFFISH characteristic of an incompetent person; foolish; ineffectual; also, old-fashioned → 1843 colloq.
► NEBBICH ► NEBBISH ► NEBBISHE ► NEBISH ineffectual, incompetent → 1941 sl.
► NEBBISHER ineffectual, incompetent → 1960 sl.
► NEG careless, incompetent → 1969 Aust. sl.
► NERDY ineffectual, incompetent → 1978 sl., orig. US
► NOT ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND WITH HIS HAT used of a complete incompetent → 20C US sl.
► OFF ONE’S FEED incompetent, unskilled → 1900s horse stable usage
► PATHETIC ineffectual, incompetent → 1937 sl.
► POOPY ineffectual, incompetent → 1957 sl., chiefly US
► SAIRIE ► SAIRY ► SARRY in a poor or sorry state, pitiable, woeful, incompetent, paltry → 1721 Sc.
► SEARS-ROEBUCK inexperienced; incompetent → 1917 Amer. dial.
► SHITTY incompetent → 1970s sl.
► SPASTIC ineffectual, incompetent → 1981 sl.
► THUMBLESS clumsy, incompetent → 1648
► UP IN THE AIR incompetent → 1910s US sl.
► WET ineffectual, incompetent → 1916 Brit. sl.
► WIMPISH ineffectual, incompetent → 1925 sl., orig. US
► WIMPY ineffectual, incompetent → 1967 sl., orig. US

ADVERBS
► ALL OF A FLARE bunglingly, clumsily, incompetently → 1839 sl.
► HALF-ARSED ► HALF-ASS ► HALF-ASSED carelessly, incompetently → 1920s sl., orig. US
► NOT FOR TOFFEE ineffectually, incompetently; used to denote incompetence → 1914 sl.

NOUNS
► CLONKER ► CLUNKER ► KLUNKER anything useless, unattractive, or incompetent → 1940s sl.
► CLUNK anything useless, unattractive, or incompetent → 1940s sl.
► MOPERY incompetence, stupidity → 1907 US sl.
► MUFFISM action that is characteristic of an incompetent person; foolishness → 1854 colloq., obs.
► P.O. PRUNE a personification of stupidity and incompetence → 1895 Royal Air Force sl.

NOUNS – PERSON
► BEARDLESS WONDER an incompetent or foolish person → 1952 US sl.
► BEAUTY a term of contempt for a person who is the reverse of beautiful; an impertinent, an unmanageable person; one who is incompetent; used ironically → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► BED-WETTER one who is a failure; an incompetent person → 2002 US sl.
► BERK ► BIRK ► BURK ► BURKE an incompetent, objectionable, or annoying person; a term of abuse→ 1929 UK sl., mildly derogatory
► BERKELEY (HUNT) a fool; a person whom one does not like; an incompetent → 1937 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘cunt’
► BILLYGOAT an incompetent, silly person; a fool → 1981 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► BLIND FREDDY an imaginary person representing the lowest level in perception or competence → 1996 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► BUMBIE a blundering or incompetent person → a1585 Sc. obs.
► BUMBLE a blundering or incompetent person → 1789 Sc. obs.
► BUMBLER a person who does something in a confused, blundering, or ineffectual way; an incompetent person; a bungler → c1530
► BURN-THE-GULLY an unskilful, incompetent workman → 1930 Sc.
► BUTCHER a clumsy incompetent; a bungler → 1954 US sl.
► CAKE a fool; a soft, foolish person; an incompetent → :1785 sl.
► CHUNT an unpleasant, incompetent person → 2000s US students’ sl.
► CLUNKER a fool, a dolt, an incompetent person → 1950s sl.
► DEADWOOD an incompetent or otherwise useless person → 1887 US sl.
► DOTE a foolish, incompetent or slow-witted person → a1275
► DRIP an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1932 sl.
► DRONGO a stupid, foolish, or incompetent person → M20 Aust. & NZ sl.
► DROOB ► DRUBE an ineffectual or incompetent person; an unprepossessing or contemptible person. esp. a man → 1933 Aust. sl.
► DROOP an ineffectual, incompetent, or languid person; a fool → 1932 US sl.
► DROOPY-DRAWERS an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1939 sl.
► DUB an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1887 sl., orig. & chiefly US
► DUFFER an incompetent person; a person of no ability; a foolish oaf; a bungler → c1730 UK sl.
► DULL TOOL an incompetent person → 1700 sl.
► FARMER an incompetent worker, esp. among loggers → 1930 Amer. dial.
► FART-ARSE a fool, an incompetent → 1946 sl.
► FART-ARSED MECHANIC a clumsy incompetent; an oaf → 1984 sl.
► FART-KNOCKER an incompetent blunderer → 1952 US sl.
► FEEB an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1911 US sl.
► FLATLANDER a person from the plains; hence, from the perspective of mountain dwellers, an outsider, a hick, an incompetent person → 1958 Amer. dial.
► FUCK-UP a person who makes a mess of things; an incompetent person; a blunderer; a misfit → c1945 sl.
► GAWDELPUS ► GAWD-HELP-US an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1908 sl.
► GAZOOK an ineffectual or incompetent person; a clumsy oaf → 1901 sl., orig. US
► GEEK an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1876 sl., orig. Brit.
► GFU an incompetent person → 1942 US military jocular usage
► GIMP a stupid, foolish, unpleasant, obnoxious, or contemptible person; a simpleton; an incompetent or weak person → 1924 sl., orig. US, derogatory
► GOBSHITE a stupid, incompetent, or contemptible person, esp. an ignorant loudmouth ..M20 sl., chiefly Irish
► GOOBER an idiot, a fool; an incompetent, a country bumpkin → M19 sl.
► GOOF an oaf, a ridiculous jerk; an incompetent fool → 20C US sl. & colloq.
► GOOF-BALL a jerk; an oaf; an incompetent fool → M20 US sl.
► GOOFER an oaf, a ridiculous jerk; an incompetent fool → 20C US sl. & colloq.
► GOOFUS an oaf, a ridiculous jerk; an incompetent fool → 1910s US sl. & colloq.
► GUY an incompetent person, one who is inadequate → 1980s US students’ sl.
► HACK an incompetent person; an inadequate → 1958 sl.
► HALF-ASS a stupid, incompetent person; a blockhead or bungler → 1934 US sl. 
► HAM an incompetent person, esp. one who poses as more expert than his performance shows him to be, esp. in sports → 1881 sl.
► HAM AND EGGER an average, inconsequential, or mediocre person; a person who is below par, a second-rate person; a stupid, incompetent, or inferior person; an oaf → 1919 US sl.
► HEEL a person incompetent or undesirable or parasitic → 1914 US sl.
► HORSE’S ASS a stupid and incompetent person; a contemptible person → 2009 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► IN-AND-OUTER an incompetent, esp. in sport → L19 US sl.
► JACKASS a stupid or foolish person; an ineffective and incompetent person; a dolt or an oaf ;a blockhead; an ignoramus; a term of contempt→ 1823 
► JACK-LEG an incompetent, unskilled, unscrupulous, or unprincipled worker or professional person, esp. a quack doctor, a crooked lawyer, or a hypocritical preacher; a bungling workman → 1853 US sl. 
► JACK-OFF a jerk or incompetent oaf → 20C US sl.
► JERK an oaf or incompetent fool → 19C US sl.
► JERK-OFF a worthless, contemptible person; a jerk or oaf; an incompetent do-nothing; a contemptuous term of address → 1968  Brit. & US sl.
► LUNKHEAD an absolute fool; an idiot; an incompetent → M19 sl., orig. US
► MESS an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1936 sl.
► MESS-UP an inadequate or incompetent person; a person with problems → 1944 sl. 
► MISCARRIAGE an incompetent person → 1970s US sl.
► MOAK ► MOKE a stupid, awkward, or incompetent person; a dolt; a fool;  a blockhead → 1855 Amer. sl.
► MOMPARA an incompetent person; a fool; an idiot; also used affectionately, and as a form of address → 1930 S. Afr. colloq.
► MOO a person regarded as misguided, foolish, or incompetent, usually a woman → Bk1909 humorous or derogatory
► MOOK a term of abuse; an incompetent, ineffectual, foolish, or stupid person; a contemptible person (esp. with reference to low social status) → 1930 US & Caribbean colloq., derogatory
► MUFFIN an incompetent person, one who is awkward → M19 sl.
► MUG a stupid or incompetent person; a fool or simpleton; a gullible person, a dupe → 1857 colloq.
► MUMMY an incompetent person → 1900s US sl.
► MUPPET an incompetent or ineffectual person; an idiot; an enthusiastic but inept person; a person prone to mishaps through naivety → 1989 sl.
► MUSH-HEAD an ineffectual or incompetent person; one who is easily influenced → 1846 US sl.
► MUTT an awkward, ignorant, or blundering person; an incompetent person; a fool → 1900 sl.
► NACKLE-ASS an incompetent, paltry fellow; a term of contempt → 1886 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NANA ► NARNA a fool, an idiot, an incompetent person → 1960s sl.
► NARNA a fool, an idiot, an incompetent → 1960s sl.
► NEBBICH ► NEBBISH ► NEBBISHE ► NEBISH an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1941 sl.
► NEBBISHER an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1960 sl.
► NERD a person lacking in social skills, fashion sense, or both; someone studious but socially inept; an ineffectual or incompetent person; an oaf, a jerk → → 1951 chiefly US colloq.
► NERK an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1966 Brit. sl.
► NO-HOPER a useless or incompetent person; one from whom no good can be expected → 1944 sl., orig. Aust.
► NONG a fool, a simpleton; a stupid or incompetent person → 1944 Aust. & NZ sl.
► NUMPTY a fool, an incompetent person → 1988 UK sl.
► NURD a person lacking in social skills, fashion sense, or both; an ineffectual or incompetent person; someone studious but socially inept; an oaf, a jerk → 1951 sl., chiefly US
► PALOOKA an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1925 sl., chiefly US
► PISHER an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1942 US sl.
► PLUG an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1848 sl., chiefly US
► POGO an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1972 Aust. sl.
► POOP an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1915 sl.
► POOP-STICK an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1930 sl.
► PRICK a stupid, contemptible or annoying person; an ineffectual or incompetent man → 1598 sl.
► PRICKER a fool, an idiot, an incompetent person → 1920s sl.
► PRUNE an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1895 sl., orig. US
► PUNK an ineffectual or incompetent person →  M19 US sl.
► RAT an incompetent → 1970s Aust. criminals’ sl.
► RIGHT NANA a fool, an idiot, an incompetent → 1960s sl.
► SCHLEMASEL ► SCHLEMAZEL a fool, esp. an unfortunate, an incompetent → L19 sl.
► SCHLEMIEL a fool; a clumsy person; a gullible person; an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1892 sl., chiefly US
► SCISSOR one regarded as foolish, incompetent, or inexperienced → 1916 Amer. dial.
► SCISSOR-BILL ► SCISSORS-BILL ► SCIZZOR-BILL one regarded as foolish; an ineffectual, incompetent, or inexperienced  person → 1871 sl., chiefly US
► SHLEMOZZLE a fool, esp. an unfortunate, an incompetent → L19 sl.
► SHOWER 1. a group of ineffectual or incompetent people → 1941 Brit. sl.
2. an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1949 Brit. sl.
► SIZZER one regarded as foolish, incompetent, or inexperienced → 1932 Amer. dial.
► SKATE a lazy and/or incompetent worker → 1998 US Army usage
► SPA an incompetent person → 1988 Irish sl., derogatory
► SPARE PART an incompetent or unsuitable man → World War I Eng. sl. 
► SPAS ► SPAZ ► SPAZZ  an ineffectual, useless, or incompetent person; a fool; an idiot; a stupid person; a clumsy, unattractive person → 1965 sl., derogatory
► SPASMOID one who is useless, clumsy, incompetent, and so is socially unacceptable → 1986 US students’ sl.
► SPASS one who is useless, clumsy, incompetent, and so is socially unacceptable → 1968 US students’ sl.
► SPASTIC one who is uncoordinated, ineffectual, or incompetent; a fool; an idiot; a stupid person; a clumsy, unattractive person → 1968 sl., offensive
► SPAZMO a term of abuse; an incompetent person; a stupid or unpleasant person → 1998 sl.
► SPAZZER one who is useless, clumsy, incompetent, and so is socially unacceptable → 2003 UK sl.
► SPAZZO a spastic, either actual or figuratively as a derogatory term → 1983 Aust. sl., derogatory
► STIFF an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1882 sl., orig. US
► STUMBLE-BUM an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1932 sl., orig. & chiefly US
► THROTTLEBOTTOM a harmless incompetent in public office → 20C
► TOOL an incompetent person → 1700 sl.
► TURKEY an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1951 US  sl.
► TWINK a jerk; an incompetent fool → 20C US sl.
► WANK an objectionable or contemptible person, esp. male; an incompetent, pretentious, or ostentatious person → 1970 sl.
► WANKER an objectionable or contemptible person, esp. male; an incompetent, pretentious, or ostentatious person → 1971 Brit. sl. 
► WET FISH an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1944 sl.
► WIMP a spineless, whimpering, undesirable person; an ineffectual or incompetent person; a weak, ineffectual man → 1920 sl., orig. US
► WRITE-OFF a useless or worthless person; an incompetent person; a no-hoper → M20 sl., chiefly Services’ usage
► WRONG GEE ► WRONG GUY an incompetent person, an untrustworthy person; a criminal → 1920s US criminals’ sl.
► WRONG INJUN an incompetent person, an untrustworthy person; a criminal → 1920s US criminals’ sl.
► WRONG ‘UN an untrustworthy, incompetent person → L19 sl.
► WUSS an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1960s sl., orig. & chiefly US
► YOYO an unpredictable or inconsistent person whose moods and actions go up and down; hence, a fool; an idiot, a dolt; a stupid person; an obnoxious person; an incompetent, or undesirable person; a jerk → 1959 US sl.
► ZONK an oaf; a totally incompetent person → M20 US sl.

PHRASES
► CAN’T FIND ONE’S BUTT WITH BOTH HANDS ► CAN’T FIND ONE’S BUTT WITH BOTH HANDS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT used to denote one is stupid or incompetent → 2006  US sl. (Bk.)
► HE COULDN’T ORGANIZE A FUCK IN A BROTHEL directed at very inefficient or incompetent person → 1920s
► HE COULDN’T ORGANIZE A TWO-CAR FUNERAL is incompetent or disorganized → 1961 US colloq.
► HE COULDN’T RUN A CHOOK RAFFLE IN A COUNTRY PUB said of someone lacking in organizational abilities, or of one who is thoroughly incompetent → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► HE COULDN’T SELL ICE-WATER IN HELL directed at very inefficient or incompetent person → 1920s
► HE COULDN’T TRAIN A CHOKO VINE OVER A COUNTRY DUNNY said of an exceptionally incompetent person → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► NOT TO BE ABLE TO DO A THING FOR NUTS to be incompetent at something → 1895 colloq.
► ONLY GOT ONE OAR IN THE WATER said of a daydreamer or an incompetent person → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)

VERBS
► BANJAX to ruin or destroy, often as a result of incompetence → US colloq.
► JACKLEG to act in an incompetent, unskilled or unprincipled way → M19 US sl.
► MAKE A MUNSIE to do something badly or incompetently → 1863 Sc.
► STINK TO HIGH HEAVEN to be despicable or completely incompetent; to be highly ethically dubious → 1973 colloq.