inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
his inability to do math
Synonyms
Examples of inability in a Sentence
She has shown an inability to concentrate.
the inability of the government to cope with the problem
Recent Examples on the Web
In court filings, Rosen cited the irreversible nature of the death penalty, and thus the inability to guarantee due process, as grounds for the petition.
—
Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Before the war, the group partnered with grocery stores and bakeries, but those businesses have mostly shuttered, Taravella said, hit by power outages and an inability to get supplies.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
The response is inadequate due to a lack of partners in the field and the inability to replenish supplies.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
Overall, Milwaukee’s inability to mesh their stars on the court has played a big role in their offensive inconsistency.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
In a state capital known for its inefficiency and inability to meet deadlines, the staircase and the Capitol’s exterior are visual reminders of Albany’s tendency toward disrepair and dysfunction.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The bridge provides access to the port of Baltimore and its sudden inability to handle imports and exports likely could mean shifting traffic to other ports on the east and west coast, experts say.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Hong Kong’s financial-reporting watchdog has been investigating PwC since 2021, after the accounting firm failed to identify Evergrande’s inability to operate as a going concern.
—Kiuyan Wong, Fortune Asia, 26 Mar. 2024
For many, an inability to speak is a significant issue: A 2014 study of vocal disorders in the U.S. found that nearly 18 million adults had difficulty using their vocal tracts to speak, while over half of that group experienced debilitating speech issues for periods longer than a week.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Mar. 2024
Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Before the war, the group partnered with grocery stores and bakeries, but those businesses have mostly shuttered, Taravella said, hit by power outages and an inability to get supplies.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
The response is inadequate due to a lack of partners in the field and the inability to replenish supplies.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
Overall, Milwaukee’s inability to mesh their stars on the court has played a big role in their offensive inconsistency.
—Brian Sampson, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
In a state capital known for its inefficiency and inability to meet deadlines, the staircase and the Capitol’s exterior are visual reminders of Albany’s tendency toward disrepair and dysfunction.
—Jay Root, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The bridge provides access to the port of Baltimore and its sudden inability to handle imports and exports likely could mean shifting traffic to other ports on the east and west coast, experts say.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Hong Kong’s financial-reporting watchdog has been investigating PwC since 2021, after the accounting firm failed to identify Evergrande’s inability to operate as a going concern.
—Kiuyan Wong, Fortune Asia, 26 Mar. 2024
For many, an inability to speak is a significant issue: A 2014 study of vocal disorders in the U.S. found that nearly 18 million adults had difficulty using their vocal tracts to speak, while over half of that group experienced debilitating speech issues for periods longer than a week.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inability.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near inability
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inability. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌin-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: lack of ability, power, or means
his inability to carry a tune
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