as in capability
the physical or mental power to do something
as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ability
Matthew has an incredible ability to take an absurd idea and deliver it with complete conviction, Bradley brought authenticity, particularly as a die-hard Eagles fan.
—
Danielle Directo-Meston,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2026
This is because animals belonging to different species do not share the same instincts, sensory abilities, or interests.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Short, known for his strong defensive skills and ability to play multiple infield spots, including shortstop, second, and third base, returns to Queens despite his offensive struggles.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Leung pushed back on any notion of innate, effortless ability.
—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ability
Danielle Directo-Meston,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2026
This is because animals belonging to different species do not share the same instincts, sensory abilities, or interests.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Short, known for his strong defensive skills and ability to play multiple infield spots, including shortstop, second, and third base, returns to Queens despite his offensive struggles.
—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Leung pushed back on any notion of innate, effortless ability.
—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ability
Noun
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Time and time again in the history of technology, monopolistic industry leaders that long seemed invincible—from Xerox to IBM to AT&T—have proven vulnerable to agile upstarts and technology advances that broke markets wide open by lowering costs, expanding supply and leapfrogging capabilities.
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Both the council and Congress have floated some good ideas for streamlining disaster assistance, reducing administrative burdens and improving uneven recovery capabilities among states.
Noun
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Demand for powerful chips has become essentially infinite thanks to the AI boom—yet the global supply of chips remains capped by how many EUV lithography machines one company can crank out, and by how much fab capacity one other company has available.
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The renovation will reduce capacity from 51,913 to approximately 50,000.
Noun
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Anderson, a teaching and research faculty member at Northwestern, is facing two objections.
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As students, faculty members and immigrant advocates worked to support her release, a legal defense fund raised more than $21,000 for bond and legal expenses in just a few days, surpassing its original goal.
Noun
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Antonucci said working with dogs can help patients practice and improve communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal.
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The tradeoff is time and skill.
Noun
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Argentina capped the night with a shutout against Algeria and with all three goals belonging to their maestro, as Messi reminded the world of his unique talents.
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Looking back, Llamas credits his rise not to exceptional talent but to persistence, preparation, and a willingness to advocate for himself.
Noun
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The future of talent acquisition will require hiring more for aptitude, adaptability and leadership potential—and less for perfectly linear résumés.
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The North Korean players’ physical aptitude was clear, but coaches were aware of their technical and tactical shortcomings.
Cite this Entry
“Ability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ability. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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