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Showing results for unable. Search instead for unall.
Definitions

unable

[uhn-ey-buhl] / ʌnˈeɪ bəl /
ADJECTIVE
not having talent, skill
Synonyms
STRONGEST
helpless impotent inadequate incapable not able powerless sidelined unfit weak
WEAK
can't cut it can't hack it can't make the grade clumsy hog-tied impuissant incapacitated incompetent ineffectual inefficacious inefficient inept inoperative no can do no good not cut out for not equal to not up to out of commission unfitted unqualified unskilled
Antonyms
STRONGEST
able capable competent fit potent qualified strong sufficient
WEAK
adequate skillful talented

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An October 2024 launch party with Will Smith and Alicia Keys proved premature, as rushed work left hotels riddled with construction problems and unable to open without hundreds of millions of dollars of fixes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Non-verbal, biting and unable to sit still, her daughter Rachael, who had been diagnosed with autism, had slowly overwhelmed Martha leaving her desperate and depressed.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

About one-third of students screened are unable to read the eye chart, but very few of those kids have adequate glasses.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

They note that the main culprit was a “catastrophically bad control-room design” where workers “were unable to understand what was going wrong.”

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

“It would take a lot out of a person, even their own control over their magic. You were unable to demand a fair bargain for your gold. You couldn’t even name a price.”

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.