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
One barista cited extra work without overtime and an inability to take regular lunch breaks.
—
Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Mahama’s installations, which say something about societal deterioration, also dramatize the country’s inability to sustain robust funding in the arts or technology in its postindependence years.
—Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Michael Thill and Elise Vinson, two nurses who were on the picket line Sunday, expressed their difficulty squaring their desire to help during the attack with their inability to work in the hospital amid the strike.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Solving housing crisis on Earth The current housing crisis is deepened by conventional construction’s inability to meet soaring demand due to its high cost and slow pace.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Mahama’s installations, which say something about societal deterioration, also dramatize the country’s inability to sustain robust funding in the arts or technology in its postindependence years.
—Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Michael Thill and Elise Vinson, two nurses who were on the picket line Sunday, expressed their difficulty squaring their desire to help during the attack with their inability to work in the hospital amid the strike.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Solving housing crisis on Earth The current housing crisis is deepened by conventional construction’s inability to meet soaring demand due to its high cost and slow pace.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability
Noun
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He was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common vein condition, the White House said in July, after photos showed visible swelling in his legs and bruising on his right hand.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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Twenty-four years later, the shape of this new work of fiction highlights both the insufficiency of memory, of story, and their utter necessity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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He may be frustrated by the lack of basic defensive discipline and shape and Messi may shake his head at the incompetence behind him, but the choices made in roster construction just can’t always be compensated for by the boys from Barcelona.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Throughout her many times as a political candidate and office holder, Harris has been dogged by allegations of incompetence and indecision, fueled by anonymous quotes and unbelievably bad public appearances.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Maybe that data suggests incompetency in the sporting director role.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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The National Geographic series dives into footage and narratives from officials leading the disaster response at the time, revealing incompetencies and false information from the media that cost locals their lives.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inability. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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