as in incapability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the apparent inability of young children to sit still
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Recent Examples of inability
Early shines The one knock on Early so far this season has been an inability to pitch deeper in games.
—
Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Still, despite its past successes and reputation as one of the most impactful companies in American history, Intel is also troubled, hindered by its inability to recognize and embrace the popularity of smartphones and the non-negotiable presence of Artificial Intelligence.
—Chris Anderson, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The two competitive moats that software CEOs relied on for decades—the inability to throw money at a problem to catch up, and customer lock-in through switching costs—are both gone, Horowitz argued.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
These early results show that energy insecurity, a hidden hardship defined as the inability to adequately meet household energy needs, affects millions of American households and is worsening quickly.
—Diana Hernández, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Still, despite its past successes and reputation as one of the most impactful companies in American history, Intel is also troubled, hindered by its inability to recognize and embrace the popularity of smartphones and the non-negotiable presence of Artificial Intelligence.
—Chris Anderson, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The two competitive moats that software CEOs relied on for decades—the inability to throw money at a problem to catch up, and customer lock-in through switching costs—are both gone, Horowitz argued.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
These early results show that energy insecurity, a hidden hardship defined as the inability to adequately meet household energy needs, affects millions of American households and is worsening quickly.
—Diana Hernández, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability
Noun
-
Trump’s command of Congress owes to the incapability of many politicians to see beyond the next election.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Placental insufficiency, in which the organ fails to develop or function properly, is a leading cause of spontaneous preterm birth, experts say.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which prevents your pancreas from producing enough of the enzymes needed to digest carbs, proteins, and fats.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In 2023-24, seven franchises achieved that level of incompetence, which was the first time that happened since 2007-08.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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At least six other Department of Aviation workers were investigated for spending hours idling on the job, demonstrating incompetence, stealing city property, and lying during the investigation.—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The reproduction of systemic racism occurs not simply through white denial but also through the promotion of cultural incompetency.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
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The District Attorney’s Office said a finding of incompetency does not dismiss the case or result in a defendant’s release, and that proceedings will resume if Mock is later deemed competent.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inability. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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