inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
his inability to do math
Examples of inability in a Sentence
She has shown an inability to concentrate.
the inability of the government to cope with the problem
Recent Examples on the Web
Plenty of art is a metaphor for our inability to connect with one another.
—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Their bites attack the nervous system, possibly leading to seizures, the inability to walk or the inability to breathe due to respiratory paralysis or extreme swelling in the throat, Willey warned.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
Interestingly, the inability to get out of the chair is not a strength issue, and tremors do not cause the decline in handwriting.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025
Similarly, Persian rap is recorded in home studios or informal settings due to the inability to obtain official permits, and it is distributed via the internet and social media.
—Ali Farahmand, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
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.
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Their bites attack the nervous system, possibly leading to seizures, the inability to walk or the inability to breathe due to respiratory paralysis or extreme swelling in the throat, Willey warned.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
Interestingly, the inability to get out of the chair is not a strength issue, and tremors do not cause the decline in handwriting.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025
Similarly, Persian rap is recorded in home studios or informal settings due to the inability to obtain official permits, and it is distributed via the internet and social media.
—Ali Farahmand, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inability. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌin-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: lack of ability, power, or means
his inability to carry a tune
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share