as in ability
the physical or mental power to do something
questioned his competence to finish the task without help
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of competence
Tasked with guarding Kawhi Leonard, who was playing MVP-caliber basketball coming into the game, Green provided not just consistent competence but dominance.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
That will change, inevitably, not as a byproduct of the organization’s own competence or success, but as a result of the scale of its failure.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
But the former controller, despite her air of competence and decency, hasn’t been able to attract support above the low single digits.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competence
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
That will change, inevitably, not as a byproduct of the organization’s own competence or success, but as a result of the scale of its failure.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
But the former controller, despite her air of competence and decency, hasn’t been able to attract support above the low single digits.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competence
Noun
-
Your ability to adapt keeps the energy alive.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Those abilities would make Astier a key contributor in DeMarco’s offense, which is designed to be more structured and feature plenty of floor spacing — areas the team struggled with last season under Sandy Brondello.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
The airline announced several new Fort Lauderdale flights to accommodate the long-term drop in seat capacity left by Spirit’s cessation of service.—
Scott Laird,
Travel + Leisure,
4 May 2026
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The administration says the new 90,000-square-foot structure will increase capacity for guests at state dinners and other events, to the tune of at least $300 million.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
It is called the fusion centers, run by local police, maintaining capabilities that are invasive and violate, accessing all devices, all.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
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The company has also added specialist hires to strengthen its digital capabilities and taken more control of key markets through localization and international advertising.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Learn from that and then get incredibly good rebuild core competencies.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Gorevitz was given a $50,000 bond and ordered to undergo a competency hearing.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Competence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competence. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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