as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
a celebrated author of serious plays, he turned out to be a particularly unable writer of comedies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unable
County officials expect to return to supervisors later, once state and federal funding specifics become clear, and adjust the budget, with the county unable to afford taking on a funding shortfall created by state or federal cuts.
—
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
Most flights out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport were canceled, leaving many stranded and unable to get home.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
The young tattoo artist was hospitalized with injuries that included a fractured forearm, which has left her unable to work.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
The plaintiffs are arguing that the excessive use of force led to many journalists being unable or fearful of covering the protests, essentially limiting the amount of press coverage.
—Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unable
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
Most flights out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport were canceled, leaving many stranded and unable to get home.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 21 June 2025
The young tattoo artist was hospitalized with injuries that included a fractured forearm, which has left her unable to work.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
The plaintiffs are arguing that the excessive use of force led to many journalists being unable or fearful of covering the protests, essentially limiting the amount of press coverage.
—Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unable
Adjective
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These board members have betrayed the public trust and shown themselves to be unfit to govern the district.—
Jay Steiger,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 June 2025
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Brushing up on English has taken on new urgency for future and current truck drivers after President Donald Trump issued an executive order saying truckers who don’t read and speak the language proficiently would be considered unfit for service.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Here, Rodel shares how to make the unfitted kitchen trend your own, one statement-worthy piece at a time.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
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Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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Some seemed to be downright incompetent, Marquez told the jury.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
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The defense has argued that others possibly killed O’Keefe inside that home and that the police were either too incompetent or corrupt to investigate that angle.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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This fact underscores Einstein’s wisdom that average individuals are incapable of understanding why great leaders always choose freedom of honesty over the prison of others’ opinions.—
Dr. Adil Dalal,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
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This definition also includes instance in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity (include due to the influence of drugs or alcohol) or because of age.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unable. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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