unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl 

: not able : incapable: such as

a

: unqualified, incompetent

b

: impotent, helpless

Synonyms of unable

• unfit
• unfitted
• incompetent
• incapable

Examples of unable in a Sentence

I was unable to afford the trip.

He was unable to play tennis after the injury.

Recent Examples on the Web

That has left many companies unable to stop the theft of American IP and made investment riskier. — Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

For Meg, who is part of an Internet-addiction program and who spoke to Allison for this feature, her social media habit kept her up all night and left her unable to attend to her kids in the morning. — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Over the past few years, big time college athletic departments have been unable to rein in the market for coaches, continuing to drive salaries—and maybe more critically, buyouts—to all-time highs. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 19 Oct. 2026

The Supreme Court was unable to consider a petition to review a copyright case after a rare lack of quorum due to four justices recusing themselves from evaluating the petition. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unable

• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label
• sable
• stabile
• stable
• table
• allocable
• educable
• irrigable
• purchasable

Kids Definition

unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl 

ˈən-

: not able : incapable