as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the apparent incapability of the president's staff to deal with the crisis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
hired a supremely incapable assistant who only made a mess of things
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 incapability
Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Not that either of them is incapable of that or unwilling to do it.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Domestic treble winners, WSL champions six years running, yet ineffably incapable of finding triumph in Europe.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The film has included the more sensitive images of the anti-lockdown protests, but seems unwilling or incapable to confront what happened next.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapability
Adjective
Gilligan is probably incapable of saccharine.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Not that either of them is incapable of that or unwilling to do it.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Domestic treble winners, WSL champions six years running, yet ineffably incapable of finding triumph in Europe.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The film has included the more sensitive images of the anti-lockdown protests, but seems unwilling or incapable to confront what happened next.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapability
Noun
-
That’s another example of this team’s inability to win on the margins.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
If there's been one issue for the Jets over the past few decades, it's been their inability to find a franchise quarterback.—
Jon Conahan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Miyares referenced a Richmond Times-Dispatch report of a Virginia trooper clocking Jones at 116 miles per hour, framing him as unfit to enforce the law.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The Bush and Quayle team won the 1988 election, but the impression of Quayle as unfit for the job remained a drag on Bush’s reputation.—
Time,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Under California law, people who are found incompetent to stand trial must be sent to a state hospital or secure mental health care facility.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
-
He was found to be incompetent to face the charge in August 2023, and later civilly committed for a mental illness.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
-
The venerable American clan at the center of the narrator’s reminiscences are wholly unfitted to the modern world and no longer endowed with the fortune that one of them brought home long ago on clipper ships.—
Daniel Akst,
WSJ,
2 Sep. 2022
Adjective
-
Republicans control the Senate and House, but Senate Republicans — with their 53-47 seat majority — have been unable to pass the House bill under the Senate’s rules concerning legislation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
-
IndyStar was unable to immediately locate the other defendants.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapability. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share