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
But the Leafs’ inability to dominate games goes back further.
—
Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
That meant a cocktail of damaging offensive droughts, an inability to control ball-handlers off the dribble, an inability to stop sustained runs, too many offensive rebounds and put-backs by the opponent, mindless turnovers and second half collapses.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
This creates unnecessary risks for businesses, as an inability to verify VAT-IDs promptly may lead to incorrect tax reporting and potential penalties.
—Aleksandra Bal, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus quickly spread around the globe, weaknesses in the world's ability to respond to an infectious disease outbreak became apparent – from an inability to get critical medical supplies to those in need to limits on tracking the disease.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
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Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
That meant a cocktail of damaging offensive droughts, an inability to control ball-handlers off the dribble, an inability to stop sustained runs, too many offensive rebounds and put-backs by the opponent, mindless turnovers and second half collapses.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
This creates unnecessary risks for businesses, as an inability to verify VAT-IDs promptly may lead to incorrect tax reporting and potential penalties.
—Aleksandra Bal, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus quickly spread around the globe, weaknesses in the world's ability to respond to an infectious disease outbreak became apparent – from an inability to get critical medical supplies to those in need to limits on tracking the disease.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 14 Mar. 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 24 Mar. 2025.
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inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌin-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: lack of ability, power, or means
his inability to carry a tune
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