as in incapability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the apparent inability of young children to sit still
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inability
Cerda says this Latino wealth gap report is important because the immigration crackdown of undocumented Latino people leads to uncertainty about their futures, the inability to be promoted or to apply for other jobs because of their undocumented status, which ultimately harms Texas’ economy.
—
Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026
Read her 2022 New Yorker feature on how the inability to amend America’s most important document has left the nation paralyzed.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
After several investigations drew attention to the mishandling of anatomical donations, lawmakers were alarmed at the lack of regulations governing body donation – and the inability of state officials to hold some companies to existing rules.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
There were two outs, so Alonso ran on contact, but Alvarez’s inability to collect the baseball quickly allowed the lumbering first baseman to score without even a throw.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026
Read her 2022 New Yorker feature on how the inability to amend America’s most important document has left the nation paralyzed.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
After several investigations drew attention to the mishandling of anatomical donations, lawmakers were alarmed at the lack of regulations governing body donation – and the inability of state officials to hold some companies to existing rules.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
There were two outs, so Alonso ran on contact, but Alvarez’s inability to collect the baseball quickly allowed the lumbering first baseman to score without even a throw.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability
Noun
-
Trump’s command of Congress owes to the incapability of many politicians to see beyond the next election.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Often times there are provisions in a divorce agreement about insufficiency of life insurance including a claim against his estate.—
Wendy Hickey,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
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But there’s another common culprit that most women don’t think about—vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Sensing hesitance as well as incompetence, coaches and players alike tried to sway the flailing fill-ins at every turn.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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Instead, the Wolves allowed a period of incompetence to define the affair, a trait that defined numerous games throughout the regular season.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The longer the delay, the more the system risks turning temporary incompetency into long-term confinement.—
Stephen Martin,
Oklahoma Watch,
30 Mar. 2026
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The reproduction of systemic racism occurs not simply through white denial but also through the promotion of cultural incompetency.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inability. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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