as in incapability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the apparent inability of young children to sit still
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 inability
Van Gendt said that’s likely indicative of the U.S.’s inability—or disinterest in—putting federal regulation in place to force companies’ hands on sustainability in a way that brings about noticeable changes.
—
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2025
Arsenal really need a productive window to re-establish their ambitions on the back of two that ranged from mixed (last summer’s incomings have not been entirely convincing) to deeply frustrating (the inability to bring in any form of attacking cover in January).
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
The inability of Black veterans to access home loans left them segregated and sidelined from democracy even after the Voting Rights Act.
— Made By History, TIME, 25 Mar. 2025
The back and forth has created volatility on Wall Street, confusion for consumers and massive amounts of uncertainty for businesses, who are paralyzed by their inability to plan for what’s next.
—David Goldman, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2025
Arsenal really need a productive window to re-establish their ambitions on the back of two that ranged from mixed (last summer’s incomings have not been entirely convincing) to deeply frustrating (the inability to bring in any form of attacking cover in January).
—James McNicholas, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
The inability of Black veterans to access home loans left them segregated and sidelined from democracy even after the Voting Rights Act.
— Made By History, TIME, 25 Mar. 2025
The back and forth has created volatility on Wall Street, confusion for consumers and massive amounts of uncertainty for businesses, who are paralyzed by their inability to plan for what’s next.
—David Goldman, CNN, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability
Noun
-
And establishing that insufficiency, perhaps unfortunately, is tremendously difficult to do.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Blood tests, which had shown some low platelet counts and anemia, have confirmed an improvement and the slight kidney insufficiency detected a few days ago has receded, the statement said.—
NICOLE WINFIELD,
arkansasonline.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
These two Radical Left fools left behind two cities that will take years to recover from their incompetence and evil.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The great tariff turnaround this week was either a sign of gross incompetence or a cruel game played on the world.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
It's been a revolving door of incompetency under center for the Browns this year.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Jan. 2025
-
When pressed on such timelines during a Senate hearing in December 2024, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf reiterated the issue isn’t a matter of corruption or incompetency, but federal support.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inability. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share