INABILITIES Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

inability

noun

ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē

Definition of inability

as in incapability

the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means the apparent inability of young children to sit still

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Example Sentences

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 inability This apparent inability to distinguish ourselves from a stranger is just another piece of the body dysmorphia pie social media has served up. — Nicole Karlis, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026 Adkinson says that this stems from an inability to build rapport with immigrant communities. — Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026 Living in fear of ‘the AIDS’ entails its own ‘long set of disappearing acts’—not just sickness and death, but shame and denial and an inability to mourn. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 The sophistication of model subterfuge that OpenAI has now disclosed, combined with OpenAI’s inability to detect or stop the hacking, suggests far worse could be to come. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inability

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inability

Noun

This could reflect in features such as automation incapabilities, incompetent workflow designs, overreliance on legacy infrastructure and lack of alignment in financial transformation.

— Dr. Saheer Nelliparamban, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Trump’s command of Congress owes to the incapability of many politicians to see beyond the next election.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026

Definition of incapability

Noun

However, Pope Leo is correct in emphasizing the insufficiency of AI ethics in the abstract.

— Thomas A. Hemphill, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
The results were consistent across most states lower rates of sleep insufficiency were associated with longer life expectancy.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Definition of insufficiency

Noun

Every dollar lost to fraud or administrative incompetence is a dollar unavailable for legitimate patients, families and vulnerable Americans.

— Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
No matter what people think about the party out of power, the level of waste, fraud, corruption and incompetence that permeates our state government should make voters consider something new in November.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of incompetence

Noun

Those forms are not pertinent to the finding of incompetency and are therefore subject to the open records law, Ziegler and Bradley wrote.

— Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Federal agents have descended upon the home of Cindy Rodriguez Singh, the North Texas mom who was recently sent to a state hospital after an incompetency ruling in the murder of her young son.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 May 2026

Definition of incompetency

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inability

in a breeze

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“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inability. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of inability

noun

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