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
The Lions were loaded with talent, but an inability to shore up the offensive line and injuries to the secondary ultimately plagued a team that had Super Bowl aspirations.
—
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
San Francisco dropped its regular season finale Saturday night to the Seattle Seahawks, 13-3, largely because of the offense’s inability to score against Seattle’s top-flight defense, despite averaging 42 points per game over the previous three weeks.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Their inability to stick to Brown’s offensive script is just one of a few glaring examples of new rights this team has wronged midway through what was beginning to look like a season worthy of its championship billing.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
The film adds modern references and takes place in the present, but its treatment of the play’s themes remains murky and marred by an inability to let go of what director Andre Gaines evidently considers to be a sacred text.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
San Francisco dropped its regular season finale Saturday night to the Seattle Seahawks, 13-3, largely because of the offense’s inability to score against Seattle’s top-flight defense, despite averaging 42 points per game over the previous three weeks.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Their inability to stick to Brown’s offensive script is just one of a few glaring examples of new rights this team has wronged midway through what was beginning to look like a season worthy of its championship billing.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
The film adds modern references and takes place in the present, but its treatment of the play’s themes remains murky and marred by an inability to let go of what director Andre Gaines evidently considers to be a sacred text.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Jan. 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 6 Jan. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share