inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
my inability to do math
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
So that curiosity factor and inability to actually fully read a narrative was always interesting to me.
—
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 1 Mar. 2026
In a continuation of the running gag on the ABC mockumentary, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Barbara’s inability to keep celebrity names straight has her mistaking Jennifer Coolidge from The White Lotus for Jennifer Lawrence.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
Carey said the bankruptcy filing became a required step after Hawthorne's relationship with its lender and other creditors fell apart – leading to setbacks, including the inability to continue the harness racing season.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
And one of the stories of Spurs in recent years has been their inability to keep pace with their rivals over salaries.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
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Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 1 Mar. 2026
In a continuation of the running gag on the ABC mockumentary, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Barbara’s inability to keep celebrity names straight has her mistaking Jennifer Coolidge from The White Lotus for Jennifer Lawrence.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
Carey said the bankruptcy filing became a required step after Hawthorne's relationship with its lender and other creditors fell apart – leading to setbacks, including the inability to continue the harness racing season.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
And one of the stories of Spurs in recent years has been their inability to keep pace with their rivals over salaries.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inability. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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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