Synonyms of ability

ability

noun

ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

as in capability

the physical or mental power to do something

as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• capability
• capacity
• faculty
• skill
• talent
• aptitude
• capableness
• competence
• competency
• reason
• instinct
• knack
• gift
• equipment
• prowess
• facility
• resources
• intelligence
• resourcefulness
• understanding
• dexterity
• influence
• usefulness
• address
• endowment
• potency
• fitness
• effectiveness
• might
• aptness
• adequacy
• means
• gray matter
• deftness
• adroitness
• wherewithal
• hand
• staying power
• stuff
• ken
• form
• puissance
• effectualness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inability
• disability
• incapacity
• incapability
• incompetence
• incompetency
• ineptitude
• ineptness
• paralysis
• weakness
• helplessness
• impotence
• powerlessness
• deficiency
• inadequacy
• impairment
• ineffectiveness
• incapableness
• uselessness
• defectiveness
• inefficacy
• ineffectuality
• incapacitation
• debilitation
• disablement
• inadequateness
• ineffectualness
• inefficaciousness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ability

Waiting too long could jeopardize your ability to recover a loss. — Liz Weston, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026

But the head of aviation security at the Transportation Ministry, Dvir Rubenstien, told Army Radio that the ministry relies on local security checks and does not have the tools or the ability to run checks on each passenger on every flight. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026

But, if California is any indication, proposing a wealth tax will alienate the tech donors who have been crucial to the Democrats’ ability to compete with Republicans in some races. — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

This and that After years of often playing with an undersized power rotation player next to Adebayo, Spoelstra conceded last week that the ability to play more big lineups comes with psychological benefits. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026