as in incapability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the apparent inability of young children to sit still
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inability
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
Less affable than in the previous season, King Henry’s narcissism and inability to face his decline are placed front and center.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
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
Less affable than in the previous season, King Henry’s narcissism and inability to face his decline are placed front and center.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability
Noun
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Healthcare providers prescribe these highly specialized garments to treat swelling and venous insufficiency.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Francis’s blood tests confirmed an improvement and that a mild kidney insufficiency had subsided.—
Jason Horowitz,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This action — a mistake or incompetence, take your pick — risks disseminating important information, jaw-dropping in its specificity, to our enemies, and could perhaps endanger American lives.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2025
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Ultimately, these appeals amounted mostly to rhetorical posturing and, because of policy inconsistencies and incompetence, effected little concrete change.—
MATIAS SPEKTOR,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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It's been a revolving door of incompetency under center for the Browns this year.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inability. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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