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Incompetence vs Impotence - What's the difference?

incompetence | impotence |

As nouns the difference between incompetence and impotence

is that incompetence is inability to perform; lack of competence; ineptitude while impotence is powerlessness.

incompetence

English

Noun

(-)
  • Inability to perform; lack of competence; ineptitude.
  • * 1851:
    • ... at the head of a crew, too, chiefly made up of mongrel renegades, and castaways, and cannibals--morally enfeebled also, by the incompetence of mere unaided virtue or right-mindedness in Starbuck
  • * 1949:
    • Winston did not know why Withers had been disgraced. Perhaps it was for corruption or incompetence . Perhaps Big Brother was merely getting rid of a too-popular subordinate.
  • * 1974:
    • The factory where she worked was a poisonous mass of incompetence , favoritism, and sabotage.

    Related terms

    * competency * incompetency

    impotence

    English

    Alternative forms

    * impotency

    Noun

    (-)
  • Powerlessness.
    • O, impotence of mind in body strong! — Milton.
  • Inability to copulate or beget children; sterility, erectile dysfunction, etc.

    • Related terms

    * impotent