1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
we have several inoperable cars on the property
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account
a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inoperable
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—
Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Mold was found on a wedge of cheese inside an inoperable reach-in cooler.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Water damage is some of the most severe damage a vehicle can endure, often rendering cars completely immobile and inoperable.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Tesla is also recalling more than 200,000 Model Y, Model S Model X and Model 3 electric vehicles because of a software issue that renders the rearview camera inoperable for a short period of time.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Mold was found on a wedge of cheese inside an inoperable reach-in cooler.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Water damage is some of the most severe damage a vehicle can endure, often rendering cars completely immobile and inoperable.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Tesla is also recalling more than 200,000 Model Y, Model S Model X and Model 3 electric vehicles because of a software issue that renders the rearview camera inoperable for a short period of time.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
-
Not too long ago, Izaak Schwaiger, a volunteer firefighter in Pine Hill, kicked down the door of a house with its fire-alarm going off only to find no fire and nobody home — just a malfunctioning security system.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
11 June 2026
-
The handwash sink next to the restrooms and kitchen had a malfunctioning soap dispenser.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Preliminary tests of the model conducted by NBC News, along with many examples shared on social media, found Anthropic’s protections took a broad view of potential suspicious activity, rendering the system useless for many mundane queries.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
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Resident Raymond Hanley said his concern is that anti-pollution systems that Silverman would install in its parking lots and roadways could become useless if property maintenance is cut back in the future.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Hafley’s defense should also incorporate more looks with three down linemen, which could mean two edge rushers on either side of a pair of defensive tackles, but there could be opportunities for three defensive tackles at times, too.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
9 June 2026
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In Franklin County, Maine, 2026 HUD rules classify a $51,450 income as too high to qualify for the down-payment grants or affordable housing tax credits that make local homeownership attainable.—
Jonathan Tower,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are better ways to eliminate smoking than impose an impractical mandate that creates a permanent class of disenfranchised adults.—
Alex Weatherall,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Disproportionate chair or lighting size feels off—and can be impractical, too.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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If the main engines were to become inoperative, six smaller orbit-control thrusters can still be activated on the lunar surface, providing an alternative pathway for a rapid ascent.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 June 2026
-
And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The fire destroyed the post office lobby, which remains unusable, prosecutors said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
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Ignoring this warning sign can allow the blockage to grow until the sink becomes completely unusable.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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Las Vegas passed a law in 2021 banning much of the valley’s ornamental turfgrass starting in 2027, and Phoenix wants to remove nonfunctional turfgrass from medians and business parks.—
Maggie Slepian,
Longreads,
14 May 2026
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About 2 miles north near Centre Bridge, a pump designed to divert water from the Delaware River into the canal was found knocked over and nonfunctional.—
Ross DiMattei,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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Some critics claim that organic farming is geared toward a luxury market and thereby unsuitable for mainstream agriculture.—
Kelly Damewood,
Fortune,
25 Nov. 2025
-
Ultimately, the city settled and closed Willow Lane Park, the one in question, along with Manitou Park, deemed unsuitable.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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