ABILITIES Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

abilities

noun

plural of ability

as in capabilities

the physical or mental power to do something as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk

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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.

Recent Examples of abilities Combined with the stealthy abilities of submarines, this will provide the new boats with a crucial ability to get inside China’s missile defenses, analysts say. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 The third iteration, released in 2024, expanded its prediction abilities to interactions among proteins and other molecules, including DNA, RNA and potential drugs. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026 While abilities are easy to exaggerate, there’s a real risk of selecting the wrong MSP to lead something integral. — James Loffler, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 According to Rheinmetall, the frigate brings together air and missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, and long-range strike abilities, all while needing a smaller crew. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 The system works layer by layer, starting with its damage-sensing abilities. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026 Actual trades and abilities aside, are there connective threads between what makes an athlete or an artist great? — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2026 Why Retirement May Impact Brain Health A significant body of research has linked retirement to declines in cognitive abilities. — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 3 Aug. 2026 Add effects like fire or electric damage to your attacks, slot in new projectile or melee weapons, or even pick up active abilities to fill out your kit. — ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abilities

Noun

Hypersonic launch capabilities enhance the new Virginia class further, analysts said, noting that testing of a hypersonic glide vehicle is well underway.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
The lab is a joint venture with Mihira Visual Labs and Animatrik Film Design and offers unparalleled motion capture capabilities, supporting up to 20 performers simultaneously.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of capabilities

Noun

While resilience helps withstand pressure, sustained excellence demands a deliberate rhythm between effort and recovery, protecting essential leadership capacities.

— Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
But in the past two years, the likes of Claude and ChatGPT have dramatically expanded the capacities of agents—and, in doing so, have spurred a rethinking of how the internet itself works.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of capacities

Noun

How much should be invested in learning, experimentation and the skills the business will require next?

— Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Some of the fastest-growing skills are in areas like agentic AI, responsible AI and AI infrastructure, according to tech workplace platform Dice.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of skills

Noun

Matthew McConaughey shows off his vocal skills (and some hidden banjo talents) with his latest role in The Rivals of Amziah King.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026
Audiences are watching these talents endure new relationships, breakups, partners cheating and divorces.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of talents

Noun

The narrator, purged of identifiers except for her yearning, her rational faculties, and her sense of unbelonging, is counterintuitively relatable—a portrait of rudimentary, universal humanity.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
The Chicago Teachers Union voted by a 2-1 ratio to accept a plan to integrate faculties in the city’s public schools.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026

Definition of faculties

Noun

For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 May 2026
This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.

— GRACIA LIU-FARRER, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025

Definition of aptitudes

Noun

This involves taking clinical boards and maintaining certification with dedicated maintenance of competencies.

— Nishtha Sareen, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Do the activities encourage time spent interacting with others online, which can help young people develop important skills and competencies?

— Gabriel E. Hales, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Definition of competencies

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“Abilities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abilities. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of abilities

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