as in abilities
the physical or mental power to do something
questioned his competence to finish the task without help
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Recent Examples of competences
Over billions of years, increasingly greater competences evolved.
—
Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competences
Noun
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Classes are accessible to all levels and abilities.—
Ramona Sentinel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Designed with people of all abilities in mind, INCLŪSIV prioritizes adaptive equipment that supports both physical and mental wellness — especially for individuals with disabilities and mobility challenges.—
Alexa Stone
January 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Employees with these technical and strategic competencies are better positioned to navigate turnover and thrive in organizations that reward impact and execution speed over tenure or traditional hierarchy.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Too often, experienced workers end up competing for roles optimized for early-career strengths, when competencies that often deepen with experience – judgment under ambiguity, systems thinking, the ability to mentor, to de-escalate, to build trust — could deliver significant value.—
Ravi Kumar S,
Fortune,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Competences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competences. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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