unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl 

: not able : incapable: such as

a

: unqualified, incompetent

b

: impotent, helpless

Synonyms of unable

• unfit
• unfitted
• incompetent
• incapable

Examples of unable in a Sentence

I was unable to afford the trip.

He was unable to play tennis after the injury.

Recent Examples on the Web

Like the vice presidency, the LG is at its core a position of waiting, either for those instances when the top person is away or indisposed or if the time ever comes when the chief executive is unable to continue in their duties. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Probate court took the property, and DeSenti was then locked out of the house, unable to even finish moving out. — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

The flood also has had knock-on effects, including panic buying of food, disrupted supply chains for food and other items, and staffing problems at various enterprises whose employees were unable to get to their jobs. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

But Machado has been unable to return to Venezuela since then. — Clyburn Saint John, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unable

• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label
• sable
• stabile
• stable
• table
• allocable
• educable
• irrigable
• purchasable

Kids Definition

unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl 

ˈən-

: not able : incapable