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
When things go wrong—the flight gets delayed, the Airbnb code won’t work—children can learn flexibility, competence, and patience.
—
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
At a minimum the conduct at issue exhibits the sort of gross negligence in financial transactions that calls into question your competence and trustworthiness as a financial regulator.
—Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Woke is the opposite of reassuring, but anti-woke isn’t enough to project competence.
—Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
Washington’s failings extend across administrations for a reason: American officials, Democrats and Republicans alike, have not taken China’s competence seriously.
—Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competence
Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2025
At a minimum the conduct at issue exhibits the sort of gross negligence in financial transactions that calls into question your competence and trustworthiness as a financial regulator.
—Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Woke is the opposite of reassuring, but anti-woke isn’t enough to project competence.
—Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025
Washington’s failings extend across administrations for a reason: American officials, Democrats and Republicans alike, have not taken China’s competence seriously.
—Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competence
Noun
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The ability to generate mid-infrared light efficiently could also open new frontiers in chemical and environmental analysis.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
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And only recently, new large language models in artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, promise to greatly expand our ability to manipulate and employ enormous quantities of data.—
Alan Lightman
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The restaurant has the option to use the lobby for seating, increasing its capacity.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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It’s meant to be as small and unobtrusive as possible, while still offering 80% of the capacity of the company’s larger models like the Big+Quiet.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Unmanned Aerial Systems with thermal imaging and infrared capability are in use and night-capable aircraft are available to support crews overnight if needed and as conditions permit.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Subsequently, Army units performed new equipment training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma to prepare for potential employment of DE capabilities.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Governments must incentivize reskilling, corporations must make training transparent and accessible, and workers must take agency in developing new competencies.—
Jason Wingard,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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After his arrest in Zarutska's killing, prosecutors filed a motion for another competency evaluation.—
Dan Gooding
Shane Croucher
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Competence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competence. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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