A term used by bad managers and by friends, family members, and romantic partners alike in circumstances where they want somebody else to do things their way but they do not want to properly communicate what their way is (or where they are happy to wax on about frivolous details but never justify why said details would actually matter to anyone else).
They will describe whoever is doing a sufficiently poor job reading their minds as incompetent, and if they suspect you are doing a poor job specifically so that they'll have to meet their own ineffable requirements (if you want something done "right", do it yourself) then they will call it "weaponized" incompetence.
In their minds the term means "feigning not being good at a task to get out of doing it" but in practice such a campaign could only ever work when there's only one person who has skin in the game for the task to be done in a certain way to begin with.
They will describe whoever is doing a sufficiently poor job reading their minds as incompetent, and if they suspect you are doing a poor job specifically so that they'll have to meet their own ineffable requirements (if you want something done "right", do it yourself) then they will call it "weaponized" incompetence.
In their minds the term means "feigning not being good at a task to get out of doing it" but in practice such a campaign could only ever work when there's only one person who has skin in the game for the task to be done in a certain way to begin with.
"Don't you even know how to make me a sandwich? The pickles have to go on top of the provolone, and the mustard and mayonaise should never touch. You didn't even cut off the crust, and who slices a sandwich lengthwise? It *must* be diagonal! Fine, I'll make my own damned sandwich, but I swear you do this on purpose just to avoid doing it the right way. It's weaponized incompetence! *huff*"
by Happ MacDonald April 8, 2024
Get the weaponized incompetencemug. by Sexydimma October 16, 2024
Get the Incompetently stupidmug. Cooking 🍳 porridge or whatever and forgetting to turn off the stove when you're done, that's incompetently stupid imho
by Sexydimma2 November 16, 2024
Get the Incompetently stupidmug. 
Knowing how to correctly accomplish an undesired task and producing a sub-satisfactory result as to never be asked to perform said task again.
The Guy: My boss wants me to work on this new machine. He's always coming to me for these things.
Coworker: sounds like you could use some controlled incompetence. Just give the appearance you're busy with it and mess it up. The boss will find someone else next time and then they can be "The Guy."
Coworker: sounds like you could use some controlled incompetence. Just give the appearance you're busy with it and mess it up. The boss will find someone else next time and then they can be "The Guy."
by Double Jay Dubs May 3, 2022
Get the Controlled Incompetencemug. by anonymous December 23, 2023
Get the Weaponized Incompetencemug. Someone who only got the job because they are gay and the gay boss likes that. Couldn't do the work for shit.
I wonder if it was Gavin himself or some Incompetent Queer underling who came up with the phrase "Make America Gavin Again". This drivel exemplifies why corruption is a bad thing. We get worse ideas because of it.
by Publius0987 August 26, 2025
Get the Incompetent Queermug.