as in incapability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the apparent inability of young children to sit still
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inability
This is bad enough, but what really concerns me is the apparent inability of the president and those advising him to consider the secondary or tertiary consequences of their decisions.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Otherwise, Washington will face the worst possible outcome: a superior competitor with increasing economic and military power enabled by AI, and a domestic AI industry unable to keep up, handicapped by its inability to build on Chinese models if necessary.
—Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2025
Our inability to pay attention is not just the smartphone’s fault.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Indeed, the root cause of the Iberian grid’s failure on a clear, windy day when 70% of Spain’s generation capacity was coming from renewables was the Spanish grid’s inability to gracefully handle such a surplus of renewables generation.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Otherwise, Washington will face the worst possible outcome: a superior competitor with increasing economic and military power enabled by AI, and a domestic AI industry unable to keep up, handicapped by its inability to build on Chinese models if necessary.
—Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2025
Our inability to pay attention is not just the smartphone’s fault.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Indeed, the root cause of the Iberian grid’s failure on a clear, windy day when 70% of Spain’s generation capacity was coming from renewables was the Spanish grid’s inability to gracefully handle such a surplus of renewables generation.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability
Noun
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Alopecia is also believed to be related to vitamin D insufficiency.—
Veronica Cristino and Hannah Coates,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
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The pope was also diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection and then mild renal insufficiency.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, the pissy, frustrated lawman (Kenneth Tobey) trying to coordinate the manhunt has to deal with abject incompetence and mind-boggling bureaucracy, as well as his own desire to relive his youth.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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But Oakland residents who have dealt with decades of incompetence at City Hall shouldn’t have their hopes up.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Outside of your job, take time to strengthen your incompetency by undergoing extra training and courses, and attending events if necessary.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
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It's been a revolving door of incompetency under center for the Browns this year.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inability. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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