1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
we have several inoperable cars on the property
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account
a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area
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Recent Examples of inoperable
When the homeowner attempted to use a portable fire extinguisher, it was found to be inoperable, officials said.
—
Cale Ahearn, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
There are holes in the wooden entrance ramp, and the mill’s drive shaft, which powered the structure, has been inoperable since a 2016 flood.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
The ransomware attack affected 30 MGM Resort properties causing immediate tremendous disruption that lasted for nine days with guests’ digital key cards inoperable, locking them out of their rooms, as well as affecting slot machines, ATMs and check in systems.
—Steve Weisman, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The warehouse also didn’t have the right number of exits or the appropriate number of bathrooms, the fire sprinkler system was inoperable and certain areas didn’t have sprinklers at all, according to the report.
—Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Cale Ahearn, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
There are holes in the wooden entrance ramp, and the mill’s drive shaft, which powered the structure, has been inoperable since a 2016 flood.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
The ransomware attack affected 30 MGM Resort properties causing immediate tremendous disruption that lasted for nine days with guests’ digital key cards inoperable, locking them out of their rooms, as well as affecting slot machines, ATMs and check in systems.
—Steve Weisman, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The warehouse also didn’t have the right number of exits or the appropriate number of bathrooms, the fire sprinkler system was inoperable and certain areas didn’t have sprinklers at all, according to the report.
—Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
-
For most of us, our inbox goals are the same: minimize useless spam, file away messages that don’t require your attention right away, and bring urgent items to the forefront.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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His devastating splitter would be useless without first establishing everything else in the strike zone.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Ren has trouble adjusting to the woman Olivia has become and still sees her as a broken girl, leading to resentment and distance between mother and daughter.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
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In November 2023, a 62-year-old American woman was killed aboard the Viking Polaris when a rogue wave crashed into a window and she was struck by broken glass, according to WCVB-TV.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In regions where extending traditional power lines is costly or impractical, solar microgrids offer a viable, scalable alternative.—
ILYA Likhov,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
These trees provide good wildlife value, so their removal may be both undesirable and impractical, especially since spores can travel on the wind for quite a distance.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps most notably, both sides deploy decoy vehicles—either inoperative derelicts or inflatable fakes—to draw enemy fire away from real vehicles.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
31 Oct. 2024
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In wartime, however, the calculus changes, because most of the costs are inoperative.—
William C. Wohlforth,
Foreign Affairs,
22 June 2021
Adjective
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Eventually, the battery becomes unusable and typically dies by its 2,000th charge cycle, even as its internal components remain in good shape.—
Troy Aidan Sambajon,
Christian Science Monitor,
1 Apr. 2025
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The once clear canals flowing into the Bay are now unusable by several residents’ standards.—
Courtney Heath,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The United Nations reports that more than 60 percent of homes have been destroyed and 95 percent of hospitals are nonfunctional.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
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At least as of right now, the Audible app on her phone remains nonfunctional for reasons that are beyond me, but with luck—and a bit of ongoing care and maintenance for the server in the closet where this stuff all lives now—neither of us will ever have to deal with that app again.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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If the new wells prove unsuitable for city use, the city has a contingency plan designed for rehabilitation.—
Kyle Martin,
The Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2025
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Until now, scientists have generally thought that planets orbiting white dwarfs would be unsuitable for life because the dynamic temperature decrease of their dead parent star makes their atmospheres too unstable.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Drivers say their contract issues center on pay as well as safety issues, including nonfunctioning heaters, loudspeakers and windshield wipers.—
Zaz Hollander,
Anchorage Daily News,
4 Feb. 2023
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In 2020, the state of Virginia passed some bills limiting pretextual traffic stops—for example, when police spot nonfunctioning brake or tail lights or hear an overly loud exhaust system.—
Michael Tomasky,
The New Republic,
30 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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