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

The district began hearing that students were unable to access their BankMobile accounts about a month ago. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026

For days, Mazur was pinned down in his home on the west bank of the Dnieper River with his wife and children, unable to reach the Nadiya clinic, which amid the chaos paused operations. — Megan Molteni, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026

Some parents fear being unable to communicate with their children amid ongoing violence, from which children and adolescents are not spared. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

About 77 mobile homes near the wreckage were evacuated, with county officials unable to say when residents can return as investigators examine the scene. — David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 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