1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
we have several inoperable cars on the property
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account
a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inoperable
During a visit to the site in February, the city's watchdog learned that the building had been under a fire watch by the Baltimore Fire Department since 2024, due to sprinklers and fire alarm systems being inoperable.
—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Mold was found on a wedge of cheese inside an inoperable reach-in cooler.
—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 22,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Water damage is some of the most severe damage a vehicle can endure, often rendering cars completely immobile and inoperable.
—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Mold was found on a wedge of cheese inside an inoperable reach-in cooler.
—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 22,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Water damage is some of the most severe damage a vehicle can endure, often rendering cars completely immobile and inoperable.
—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
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The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.
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Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.
Adjective
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Using that quartet in what is essentially a useless game would be playing with fire.
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Maps had become useless; streets and landmarks washed away or hidden.
Adjective
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Even in a down year in which playing a rookie would have been more beneficial, Jones didn’t play much for the Pacers.
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Stock prices, meanwhile, ticked higher Wednesday after a down day Tuesday.
Adjective
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The firm at one earlier point had reportedly offered a service to screen against low intelligence in human embryos, which is a highly controversial and perhaps impractical idea.
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Pretty, functional storage solutions are the perfect antidote to impractical minimalism.
Adjective
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If the main engines were to become inoperative, six smaller orbit-control thrusters can still be activated on the lunar surface, providing an alternative pathway for a rapid ascent.
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And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.
Adjective
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The fire destroyed the post office lobby, which remains unusable, prosecutors said.
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Early tests of the system's effect on redistricting data raised alarm among many data users, who feared that the statistics would ultimately be unusable.
Adjective
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The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said drivers should treat intersections with nonfunctional traffic signals as a four-way stop.
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Critics alleged inhumane conditions, including poor food, nonfunctional toilets and a lack of access to attorneys.
Adjective
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In 2023 the agency documented signs of stress in sloths during public encounters, improper handling of a juvenile kangaroo and environmental conditions deemed unsuitable for a sloth’s care.
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As a result of the unsuitable conditions, Stevie was starving and dehydrated.
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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