inoperable

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce inoperable (audio)
Definition of inoperablenext
1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order we have several inoperable cars on the property

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area

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 inoperable The decision left some Ukrainian drones virtually inoperable, according to the newspaper. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 McIvor, who died after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, helped shape Glasgow’s club culture as a DJ, curator and promoter. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026 The latest operation has rendered the tools inoperable in what FBI and Justice Department officials said was a blow to the hacking operation. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 One factor contributing the repair delays – but unmentioned by the GAO report – is acknowledgement that the Washington shipyard at Bremerton on Puget Sound is built on a fault line and four of its dry docks are inoperable following an earthquake. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
  1. malfunctioning
  2. useless
  3. down
  4. impractical
  5. inoperative
  6. unusable
  7. nonfunctional
  8. unsuitable
Adjective
  • Riders had to evacuate its log ride on seven separate occasions because of issues such as boats colliding or becoming jammed and smoke coming from a malfunctioning part of the ride.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Homeowners reported a swift meeting at which officers discussed a reorganization of their specific duties and the hiring of an elevator expert to fix the chronically malfunctioning, overloaded elevators.
    — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of malfunctioning
Adjective
  • The fog rendered our headlamps nearly useless, blinding us more than lighting our way.
    — John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 11 Nov. 2026
  • But today, the focus on cutting out useless tasks is much stronger, driven by a real push to shrink workforce expenses.
    — Konstantin Klyagin, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • Proposition 37, which would create a down-payment assistance program to help middle-class Californians buy a home, was approved by voters.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Unlike with Bednar, the Yankees did not extend the qualifying offer to Chisholm, who endured a down season in 2026.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of down
Adjective
  • Contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert tested the bed in her son’s bedroom, where limited floor space made adding another dresser or nightstand impractical.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Modeling this electric power interface between Maryland and PJM to create a vision is simply impractical.
    — Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of impractical
Adjective
  • If the main engines were to become inoperative, six smaller orbit-control thrusters can still be activated on the lunar surface, providing an alternative pathway for a rapid ascent.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 2026
  • And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.
    — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of inoperative
Adjective
  • Still, the lake remained just over a quarter full, and 15 of its 17 boat launches remained unusable as of Friday.
    — Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Some of the fleet’s older satellites suffered from atomic clock failures, rendering them partially or totally unusable.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of unusable
Adjective
  • The law makes a distinction between ‘useful’ creations that cannot be copyrighted, including most clothing, and nonfunctional sculptural works like jewelry that may be eligible for copyright protection.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Subsense showed off a nonfunctional mock-up of a cap that looked like a cross between a baseball cap and a bike helmet.
    — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of nonfunctional
Adjective
  • Such temperatures can rapidly compromise frozen inventory and make affected products unsuitable for consumption.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Bears have said previously that they are focused on pursuing a $2 billion stadium across the state line in Hammond or in suburban Arlington Heights, and that the Rate Field site was unsuitable, citing in part its limited size.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsuitable

Browse Nearby Words

in one's cups
inoperable
inoperative
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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