inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
his 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
But as the labor ministry’s inability to engage with shows, the state can do only so much.
—
Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
The issue was his lack of consistency and his inability to limit hard contact.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Investors’ inability to trust official numbers — as a result of data falsifications and severe revisions — was a factor contributing to the Greek debt crisis in the early 2010s, which required multiple international bailouts and years of punishing economic reforms.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Taiwan Semi 's inability to hold gains after a stellar quarter and strong guidance is a sign of a possible short-term crest in the AI trade's ability to go up every day on similar news flow.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
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Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
The issue was his lack of consistency and his inability to limit hard contact.
—Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Investors’ inability to trust official numbers — as a result of data falsifications and severe revisions — was a factor contributing to the Greek debt crisis in the early 2010s, which required multiple international bailouts and years of punishing economic reforms.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Taiwan Semi 's inability to hold gains after a stellar quarter and strong guidance is a sign of a possible short-term crest in the AI trade's ability to go up every day on similar news flow.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inability. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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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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