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
b
: not being in a state or of a kind to admit : insusceptible
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
Examples of incapable in a Sentence
hired a supremely incapable assistant who only made a mess of things
Recent Examples on the Web
Movies like Eddington and The Mastermind also render their white male protagonists as ill-prepared and ineffectual numbskulls incapable of confronting their era’s racial and social politics.
—
Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Domestic treble winners, WSL champions six years running, yet ineffably incapable of finding triumph in Europe.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The film has included the more sensitive images of the anti-lockdown protests, but seems unwilling or incapable to confront what happened next.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
While older kids were more likely to use algorithmic strategies, our finding contrasts with Piaget’s belief that children were incapable of this kind of systematic strategizing before 7 years of age.
—Celeste Kidd, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapable
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Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Domestic treble winners, WSL champions six years running, yet ineffably incapable of finding triumph in Europe.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The film has included the more sensitive images of the anti-lockdown protests, but seems unwilling or incapable to confront what happened next.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
While older kids were more likely to use algorithmic strategies, our finding contrasts with Piaget’s belief that children were incapable of this kind of systematic strategizing before 7 years of age.
—Celeste Kidd, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapable
Cite this Entry
“Incapable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapable. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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incapable
adjective
in·ca·pa·ble
(ˈ)in-ˈkā-pə-bəl
: not able to do something
incapable of cleaning her room thoroughly
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