Unskillful means lacking the ability, practice, or expertise to do something well. When someone is unskillful at drawing, their sketches might look wobbly or disproportionate. An unskillful carpenter might cut boards crookedly or hammer nails in at odd angles. The word describes work that shows inexperience rather than mastery.

Being unskillful isn't the same as being unable to learn. Most people start out unskillful when they try something new: a beginning violinist produces squeaky, scratchy sounds before learning to make beautiful music. A novice ice skater wobbles and stumbles before gliding smoothly. The difference between unskillful and skilled comes down to practice, attention, and effort.

You might also hear people describe actions or approaches as unskillful. An unskillful attempt to apologize might make things worse instead of better. An unskillful negotiation might leave everyone unhappy. In these cases, the word suggests clumsy execution or poor judgment.

The opposite of unskillful is skillful or skilled, describing someone who has developed real competence through practice and dedication.