Synonyms for

Inability

Verb / ˌɪnʌˈbɪlɪti: / Another word for inability — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

The state of not being able to do something or lacking the skill or means to do it.

Synonyms & similar words

ability unfitness incapability incompetence inadequacy powerlessness weakness disability inaptitude ineptitude infirmity inexperience clumsiness inutility helplessness inefficiency ineffectiveness inoperability inaccessibility infeasibility incapacity

Synonyms by register

Formal

incapacity impotence disability

Informal

can't do it not up to it no good at

Literary

unfitness want of power

Antonyms

ability capability competence skill aptitude power capacity

Common collocations

  • inability to pay
  • inability to perform
  • inability to understand
  • inability to cope
  • inability to speak
  • inability to move
  • inability to function

Word family

noun inability
adjective unable

Usage note

Inability refers to a lack of capacity or skill to do something. It is often used in formal contexts, especially when discussing legal or medical issues.

Example sentences

  1. My inability to ride a bike made me feel left out of my friends' activities.
  2. The athlete's inability to perform at his best led to his team's loss.
  3. The student's inability to focus in class resulted in poor grades.
  4. The company's inability to adapt to new technology caused its downfall.
  5. The patient's inability to move his legs was caused by a spinal injury.

Quotes

  • Inability to make a decision is one of the painful forms of torture.
  • Inability to accept the mystic experience is more than an intellectual handicap. Lack of awareness of the basic unity of organism and environment is a serious and dangerous hallucination.
  • Inability to see clearly is the main reason a person seeks a guide.

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