Definition of incapable
1 : lacking capacity, ability, or qualification for the purpose or end in view: such asa archaic : not able to take in, hold, or keepb archaic : not receptivec : not being in a state or of a kind to admit : insusceptibled : not able or fit for the doing or performance : incompetent
2 : lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) : disqualified
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Examples of incapable in a Sentence
hired a supremely incapable assistant who only made a mess of things
Recent Examples of incapable from the Web
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This was in fact, Walker shows, a watershed moment for Stalin, his regime and his still young and untested military, disproving the assumption that the Red Army was incapable of fighting a modern war.
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Trump and his crowd seem incapable of that, or fully determined to work against it.
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Griffin was simply incapable of turning off the comedian switch and rolled on far too long, stepping into enough hot points to rile most every demographic.
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Alfred Olango’s family has long called for a federal probe into the 38-year-old man’s death, believing the El Cajon Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office were incapable of an unbiased investigation.
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And the Media Lab might be constitutionally incapable of generating these types of ideas.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incapable'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of incapable
Middle French, from in- + capable capable
INCAPABLE Defined for English Language Learners
incapable
playDefinition of incapable for English Language Learners
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: not able to do something : not capable
INCAPABLE Defined for Kids
incapable
playDefinition of incapable for Students
: not able to do something Penguins are incapable of flight.
Law Dictionary
incapable
Legal Definition of incapable
: lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) — see also incapacity
Learn More about incapable
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for incapable Spanish Central: Translation of incapable Nglish: Translation of incapable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of incapable for Arabic speakers
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