as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
a celebrated author of serious plays, he turned out to be a particularly unable writer of comedies
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of unable
Other residents have reported being unable to receive food supplies, medicine or toiletries at the edge of their neighborhoods.
—
Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Five months into the season, however, the former Bayern Munich and Germany manager has been unable to unleash a new Fati, and the real question now is whether those previous high hopes many had for him are gone for good.
—Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Anthony and Justin both used wheelchairs and were unable to escape.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
The two began playing together, connecting through the game while being unable to do so in person.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unable 
Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Five months into the season, however, the former Bayern Munich and Germany manager has been unable to unleash a new Fati, and the real question now is whether those previous high hopes many had for him are gone for good.
—Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Anthony and Justin both used wheelchairs and were unable to escape.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
The two began playing together, connecting through the game while being unable to do so in person.
—Barry Levitt, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unable
Adjective
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Jean-Marie Le Pen was deemed unfit to testify. ___ Ganley, who retired from The Associated Press, contributed to this report.—
Thomas Adamson, Sylvie Corbet,
TIME,
7 Jan. 2025
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It's said in the books that the iron throne was built to cut anyone unfit to rule, which sums up Viserys (although, to be fair, it's easily done; the throne is made of swords).—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Geyser was diagnosed the following August with childhood-onset schizophrenia and ruled incompetent to stand trial, a decision that was reversed that December.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2025
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In 2023, he was found medically incompetent to stand trial and removed from the case.—
Carol Rosenberg,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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One man allegedly unloaded his pistol into Mary, only to find that the bullets were incapable of penetrating her thick hide.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
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In the 1980s, Washington was seized by the worry that American industry was incapable of competing with Japan’s economic juggernaut.—
Jude Blanchette,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unable
Cite this Entry
“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unable. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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