1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
we have several inoperable cars on the property
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inoperable
During a visit to the site in February, the city's watchdog learned that the building had been under a fire watch by the Baltimore Fire Department since 2024, due to sprinklers and fire alarm systems being inoperable.
—
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Mold was found on a wedge of cheese inside an inoperable reach-in cooler.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Water damage is some of the most severe damage a vehicle can endure, often rendering cars completely immobile and inoperable.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Adam Thompson, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Mold was found on a wedge of cheese inside an inoperable reach-in cooler.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Water damage is some of the most severe damage a vehicle can endure, often rendering cars completely immobile and inoperable.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
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The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
24 May 2026
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Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Using that quartet in what is essentially a useless game would be playing with fire.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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Maps had become useless; streets and landmarks washed away or hidden.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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That down year is not necessarily an indication of Jefferson as a talent.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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The down alternative also keeps you supportive and cool all night long.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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The trouble was that their official away shirts provided by Le Coq Sportif were made of a very heavy fabric, wildly impractical given the game kicked off at noon under the blazing Mexico City sun.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Those experiments were once widely dismissed as impractical, and Joby has faced similar skepticism.—
Randy Tucker,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The fire destroyed the post office lobby, which remains unusable, prosecutors said.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
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Early tests of the system's effect on redistricting data raised alarm among many data users, who feared that the statistics would ultimately be unusable.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said drivers should treat intersections with nonfunctional traffic signals as a four-way stop.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
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Critics alleged inhumane conditions, including poor food, nonfunctional toilets and a lack of access to attorneys.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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In 2023 the agency documented signs of stress in sloths during public encounters, improper handling of a juvenile kangaroo and environmental conditions deemed unsuitable for a sloth’s care.—
Katie Surma,
Sun Sentinel,
19 June 2026
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As a result of the unsuitable conditions, Stevie was starving and dehydrated.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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