unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl How to pronounce unable (audio)
Synonyms of unablenext
: not able : incapable: such as

Examples of unable in a Sentence

I was unable to afford the trip. He was unable to play tennis after the injury.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
With Hunter taking Johnson out of the game, Virginia’s supporting cast was unable to keep up the pace from the first half. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026 With homeowners and businesses unable to find coverage in the standard market, many consumers ended up in the state’s insurer of last resort — called the Fair Access Insurance Requirements Plan, or FAIR Plan. Pat Maio, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026 Now that this replay fantasy has collided with a more complex, indeterminate and difficult reality, Trump is unable to explain his objectives or even give the country a sense of when the war might end. Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026 Jurors awarded $35 million — including $20 million in punitive damages — to a woman raped by a nurse on three consecutive nights while unable to move or speak in Dignity Health Methodist Hospital’s ICU in 2016. Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unable

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unable was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unable. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

unable

adjective
un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl How to pronounce unable (audio)
ˈən-
: not able : incapable

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