competences

noun

plural of competence
as in abilities
the physical or mental power to do something questioned his competence to finish the task without help

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 competences Over billions of years, increasingly greater competences evolved. — Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competences
  1. abilities
  2. competencies
Noun
  • Combat emphasizes deliberate blade-on-blade action, parries, and Oni abilities, distinguishing it from Soulslikes.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Responding to three years of airspace violations, Spinu suggested, has allowed Romanian and allied pilots and commanders to study Russian munitions, flight patterns and capabilities -- plus their own abilities in engaging such threats.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of abilities
Noun
  • Experts advocate for a radical redesign, urging boards to prioritize genuine governance competencies and continuous impact measurement, moving away from outdated models that hinder vital community services.
    — Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Do the activities encourage time spent interacting with others online, which can help young people develop important skills and competencies?
    — Gabriel E. Hales, The Conversation, 17 July 2026
Definition of competencies

Browse Nearby Words

competence
competences
competencies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Competences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competences. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
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 tilde

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
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
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All