incapable

adjective

in·​ca·​pa·​ble (ˌ)in-ˈkā-pə-bəl 

1

: lacking capacity, ability, or qualification for the purpose or end in view: such as

a

: not able or fit for the doing or performance : incompetent

incapable of understanding the task

b

: not being in a state or of a kind to admit : insusceptible

incapable of telling a lie

c

archaic : not able to take in, hold, or keep

d

archaic : not receptive

2

: lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) : disqualified

incapability

(ˌ)in-ˌkā-pə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

incapableness

(ˌ)in-ˈkā-pə-bəl-nəs 

noun

incapably

(ˌ)in-ˈkā-pə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms of incapable

• unfit
• incompetent
• unfitted
• unable

Examples of incapable in a Sentence

hired a supremely incapable assistant who only made a mess of things

Recent Examples on the Web

Russian air defenses have appeared incapable of dealing with the threat. —Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

The leader who is off the charts on creativity and innovation but constitutionally incapable of operational discipline gets people around them who can execute. —Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

But in general the US military proved incapable of quickly trouncing a much weaker adversary, and left the citizens and residents of Gulf allies under fire in the meantime. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 16 June 2026

The designers themselves are often incapable of explaining what their systems are doing. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from in- + capable capable

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for incapable

• capable
• inescapable

Kids Definition

incapable

adjective

in·​ca·​pa·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈkā-pə-bəl 

: not able to do something

incapable of cleaning her room thoroughly

incapability

(ˌ)in-ˌkā-pə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

Legal Definition

incapable

adjective

in·​ca·​pa·​ble

: lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) see also incapacity