as in incapability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the apparent inability of young children to sit still
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Recent Examples of inability
But the mark also represented Hackman's inability to turn down dubious projects.
—
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
History provides abundant evidence of markets' inability to operate effectively without significant regulation and oversight.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
The tension between the desire to make something outside the self and the inability to fulfill that desire coils inside them, wringing out their psyches.
—Audrey Wollen, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were attainability, banality and inability.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
History provides abundant evidence of markets' inability to operate effectively without significant regulation and oversight.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
The tension between the desire to make something outside the self and the inability to fulfill that desire coils inside them, wringing out their psyches.
—Audrey Wollen, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were attainability, banality and inability.
—Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability
Noun
-
The slight renal insufficiency the pope had in recent days has subsided and a Tuesday CAT scan of the chest showed a normal evolution of the pulmonary inflammatory picture.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The mild kidney insufficiency detected days earlier has subsided, and for the first time, the Vatican disclosed that Francis is undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to help clear fluid from his lungs.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Detectives torpedoed their own investigations with long delays, lost evidence, incompetence and attempts to cover up mistakes, police memos show.—
Donna McGuire,
Ian Cummings,
and Glenn E. Rice,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
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As if this stunning display of incompetence was not enough, La Shell — the only non-Family player left on the hike — let David and Parvati finish the hike without a fight.—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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 14 Mar. 2025.
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