as in ability
the physical or mental power to do something
questioned his competence to finish the task without help
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Recent Examples of competence
Where dictators of the past tried to impose a national ideology, today’s autocrats focus on projecting a sense of competence.
—
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
Democrats express outrage, Republicans left red-faced Democrats, who have often charged that Trump lacks basic competence, seized on the story.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025
Dimon emphasized that competence in one area doesn’t always translate to effective leadership.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Fass is steadfast that wisdom, competence, and innovative thinking have no age boundaries.
—Dan Pontefract, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competence
Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Apr. 2025
Democrats express outrage, Republicans left red-faced Democrats, who have often charged that Trump lacks basic competence, seized on the story.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2025
Dimon emphasized that competence in one area doesn’t always translate to effective leadership.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Fass is steadfast that wisdom, competence, and innovative thinking have no age boundaries.
—Dan Pontefract, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competence
Noun
-
There are many reasons a person might hesitate to partake in French ring, a sport where dogs are judged on their agility, obedience and ability to provide protection.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The funding losses, Shaffer said, challenge the department’s ability to protect vulnerable residents and respond to emerging health threats.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Effective leaders are set apart from the others by their capacity to act rather than freeze.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Maximum payload capacity is eight pounds, and payloads can be delivered up to about 10 miles away.—
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Many of China’s technologies built for civilian purposes are being built with dual-use capabilities, with an eye toward using them in an invasion of Taiwan.—
Jill Goldenziel,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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The drills focused on practicing assaults on maritime and ground targets, and blockades of key areas and sea lanes to test the joint operation capabilities of its troops, Senior Colonel Shi Yi said in a statement released by the People’s Liberation Army.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Wyle has plenty of experience projecting competency after playing the emergency physician John Carter for most of ER’s run.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
28 Mar. 2025
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With more competency at quarterback, New York has the pieces and assets for a successful reboot.—
Ben Standig,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Competence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competence. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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