incapable
adjective
in·ca·pa·ble
(ˌ)in-ˈkā-pə-bəl 
1
: lacking capacity, ability, or qualification for the purpose or end in view: such as
a
: not able or fit for the doing or performance : incompetent
b
: not being in a state or of a kind to admit : insusceptible
c
archaic
: not able to take in, hold, or keep
d
archaic
: not receptive
2
: lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) : disqualified
Synonyms
Examples of incapable in a Sentence
hired a supremely incapable assistant who only made a mess of things
Recent Examples on the Web
The James Webb Space Telescope is incapable of photographing the sun, according to NASA.
—
Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
For the past several years, Green was incapable of even doing that.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Christmas season has long passed, but there’s one item still flying off the shelves despite the fact that the birds depicted by the cartoonish plushies and plastic figurines inside the boxes, are incapable of flight.
—Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
But the pithy contradiction shows that Allen is incapable of a European’s moral complexity, although he was enticed by it and admired it.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
Celebrity conductors, who often earn more than a million dollars a year, seem incapable of confining themselves to one job at a time.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
Andrés seems fundamentally incapable of mundane conversation, of course.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2024
That undeniable confirmation for the world’s revisionist forces that America was an exhausted power incapable of defending its interests for very long was swiftly followed on by Russia’s second invasion of Ukraine — a horrific war of territorial conquest unseen on the European continent since 1945.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Mar. 2024
From the beginning, the U.N. and aid groups warned that the convoys were incapable of meeting the requirements of more than 2 million people who had the most basic needs.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2024
Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
For the past several years, Green was incapable of even doing that.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Christmas season has long passed, but there’s one item still flying off the shelves despite the fact that the birds depicted by the cartoonish plushies and plastic figurines inside the boxes, are incapable of flight.
—Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
But the pithy contradiction shows that Allen is incapable of a European’s moral complexity, although he was enticed by it and admired it.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
Celebrity conductors, who often earn more than a million dollars a year, seem incapable of confining themselves to one job at a time.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
Andrés seems fundamentally incapable of mundane conversation, of course.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2024
That undeniable confirmation for the world’s revisionist forces that America was an exhausted power incapable of defending its interests for very long was swiftly followed on by Russia’s second invasion of Ukraine — a horrific war of territorial conquest unseen on the European continent since 1945.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Mar. 2024
From the beginning, the U.N. and aid groups warned that the convoys were incapable of meeting the requirements of more than 2 million people who had the most basic needs.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incapable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near incapable
Cite this Entry
“Incapable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapable. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incapable
adjective
in·ca·pa·ble
(ˈ)in-ˈkā-pə-bəl
: not able to do something
incapable of cleaning her room thoroughly
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