1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
we have several inoperable cars on the property
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account
a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inoperable
Still, some preparedness experts said there were things people could do to get ready for unknown disruptions ranging from brief phone service interruptions to a bug that would make computers inoperable.
—
Duane W. Gang, The Tennessean, 31 Dec. 2024
Crowley initially told The Times that most of the ready reserve engines were inoperable or otherwise unavailable.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Some were taken to an undisclosed location, while others were transferred to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which was rendered inoperable earlier this week following an Israeli raid.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
All told, those properties were issued roughly 50 violations, according to city records, for violations including overgrowth, junk and inoperable cars parked on the properties.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Duane W. Gang, The Tennessean, 31 Dec. 2024
Crowley initially told The Times that most of the ready reserve engines were inoperable or otherwise unavailable.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Some were taken to an undisclosed location, while others were transferred to the nearby Indonesian Hospital, which was rendered inoperable earlier this week following an Israeli raid.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
All told, those properties were issued roughly 50 violations, according to city records, for violations including overgrowth, junk and inoperable cars parked on the properties.
—Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
-
In the Milky Way’s galactic magnetic field, the force is so weak that a standard compass would be virtually useless.—
Jake Parks,
Discover Magazine,
21 Feb. 2025
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Several pharmacists in São Paulo repeatedly stressed that just a few hours at room temperature renders the medications useless.—
Flávia Milhorance,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Deo’s family told the outlet that the car had a broken window and blood on the front seat, and his shoes were left inside.—
Rhiannon Saegert,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Feb. 2025
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Infielder Nick Madrigal was moved to the 60-day IL with a broken shoulder to make room on the 40-man roster.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Yet these technologies mostly proved impractical for broader application.—
Raphael S. Cohen,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Many Spanish businesses anticipate a slowdown in August and plan accordingly, whereas in the U.S., businesses remain open year-round, making extended closures impractical.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps most notably, both sides deploy decoy vehicles—either inoperative derelicts or inflatable fakes—to draw enemy fire away from real vehicles.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
31 Oct. 2024
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In wartime, however, the calculus changes, because most of the costs are inoperative.—
William C. Wohlforth,
Foreign Affairs,
22 June 2021
Adjective
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Others have noted all but unusable battery life on their phones, as seen on subreddit threads and blog summaries.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
31 Jan. 2025
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Dry and Cook Your Ingredients Your food and herbs will slowly degrade, and eventually become unusable.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Lawmakers last year banned the installation of nonfunctional turf, invasive plants and artificial turf on most commercial, industrial and state government property.—
Elise Schmelzer,
The Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2025
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Trump curbed the options available to foreigners planning to enter the U.S. by making the CBP One app nonfunctional on Inauguration Day.—
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton,
The Denver Post,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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So, with the names in play unsuitable, and no speed merchants on the trade block, does Oilers GM Stan Bowman pivot to another player type?—
Allan Mitchell,
The Athletic,
12 Feb. 2025
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The following year, regulators ruled that the company was unsuitable to operate its casinos in Sydney and Queensland, placing them under government supervision.—
Yessar Rosendar,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Drivers say their contract issues center on pay as well as safety issues, including nonfunctioning heaters, loudspeakers and windshield wipers.—
Zaz Hollander,
Anchorage Daily News,
4 Feb. 2023
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In 2020, the state of Virginia passed some bills limiting pretextual traffic stops—for example, when police spot nonfunctioning brake or tail lights or hear an overly loud exhaust system.—
Michael Tomasky,
The New Republic,
30 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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