gross incompetence

Meaning

1. 1noununcountableformallegal

   A very serious lack of skill or ability to do a job properly, causing clear harm or failure.

   Grammar: Uncountable; often used with accused of or dismissed for.

   Patterns

   • dismissed for gross incompetence
   • accused of gross incompetence

   The director was fired for gross incompetence.

   The inquiry found gross incompetence in how the case was handled.

   Critics accused the minister of gross incompetence.

Common combinations

accused of gross incompetence

The manager was accused of gross incompetence.

dismissed for gross incompetence

He was dismissed for gross incompetence.

charge of gross incompetence

The board faced a charge of gross incompetence.

amount to gross incompetence

These errors amount to gross incompetence.

Synonyms and how they differ

negligence

Negligence means failing to take proper care, while gross incompetence stresses lack of ability.

ineptitude

Ineptitude suggests clumsiness, while gross incompetence is a stronger formal accusation.

misconduct

Misconduct implies wrongdoing on purpose, whereas incompetence is about inability.

mismanagement

Mismanagement focuses on bad running of an organization, a narrower use than gross incompetence.

Opposites

Word family

incompetent adjective

lacking the skill to do something properly

incompetently adverb

in an unskilled way

competence noun

the ability to do something well

competent adjective

having the skill needed

Commonly confused: gross incompetence or gross misconduct?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “gross incompetence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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