abled

\ ˈā-bəld

How to pronounce abled (audio)

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Definition of abled

: capable of unimpaired function Again, the design is physically helpful for the less abled, more comfortable because it eliminates the strap-across-the-lower-neck sensation of standard belts …— Royal Ford

Examples of abled in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are sick bodies and bodies with disabilities, both of which require their inhabitants to navigate different landscapes than the ones encountered by healthy or abled people. — Dana Snitzky, Longreads, "This Month in Books: ‘I Don’t Want To Become a Giant Insect!’," 18 Sep. 2019 The criteria of the law apply equally to abled and disabled alike. — Chris Eaton, Twin Cities, "Chris Eaton: My end-of-life bill lets people make decisions about their health care if they can — and it protects those who can’t," 15 Sep. 2019 Things that are considered luxury amenities for abled people are often necessities for people with disabilities. — Wendy Lu, Quartz, "Traveling while disabled is four times more expensive," 8 Aug. 2019 Scores of plus-size and differently abled models were seen strutting down the catwalk in all their glory. — Shammara Lawrence, Teen Vogue, "The Best Body-Positive Moments from New York Fashion Week 2018," 15 Sep. 2018 So much is focused on fertility and reproduction — and that's not always something abled people think disabled people should or can do. — Ariel Henley, Teen Vogue, "Why Sex Education for Disabled People Is So Important," 5 Oct. 2017 Many of these men and women lack the same freedom of movement and clarity of speech as abled people, yet they are focused less on their limitations and more on their potential. — Robbie Shell, WSJ, "When ‘Enough’ Doesn’t Have to Mean ‘More’," 23 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abled.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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able-bodied seaman

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Cite this Entry

“Abled.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abled. Accessed 22 Jan. 2021.

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