able

adjective

ˈā-bəl How to pronounce able (audio)
Definition of ablenext
as in qualified
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance looking for an able and reliable assistant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of able The presence of several million nerve endings suggests that narwhals may be able to sense temperature or salinity changes in the water with their tusks. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 Tickets for Camp Flog Gnaw 2026 are already sold out, but fans who weren’t able to secure passes can join a waitlist. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026 This is the first year since Ballet Hartford gained its current artistic director Claire Kretzschmar that the company has been able to announce its entire fall-to-spring season at one time. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026 Being able to think through your financial and legal position, as well as your possibilities for social support, will give you more information with which to make a decision. — R Eric Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for able
Recent Examples of Synonyms for able
  1. qualified
  2. suitable
  3. capable
  4. competent
  5. good
Adjective
  • Statistics, Charts, and Graphs Kelly Phillips Erb Investment in qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) property has risen sharply since the program’s early years.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • During the pandemic, the Small Business Administration offered loans to qualified business that were suffering financial losses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of qualified
Adjective
  • The system is suitable for engaging both armoured and unarmoured targets.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Limits on mental health diversion SB 1373 would have revised the public safety standard a court applies when determining whether a criminal defendant is suitable for mental health diversion.
    — John Woolfolk, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of suitable
Adjective
  • The bronze vessel reportedly contained an internal mechanism capable of indicating the direction from which seismic waves had arrived.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Growing dividends provide an ongoing reminder that the portfolio is not merely a balance on a statement, but ownership in businesses capable of sending cash back to their owners.
    — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of capable
Adjective
  • Other negotiators described him as highly competent with a command of the details.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Starring opposite Steve Carell in a big-screen reboot of the 1960s TV series, Hathaway plays Agent 99, a highly competent superspy paired with… well, the admittedly less competent but extraordinarily lucky Maxwell Smart (Carell).
    — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of competent
Adjective
  • Max’s arrival is particularly propitious because Max is still sore from Nathan’s betrayal, so if Max can get on Joe’s good side by respecting his authority, Joe can reward him with the lead position.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The offense has all the pieces to be one of the league’s best.
    — Jon Machota, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of good

Browse Nearby Words

ablaze
able
able-bodied
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Able.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/able. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on able

Nglish: Translation of able for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All