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inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌi-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē
: lack of sufficient power, resources, or capacity
his inability to do math
Synonyms
Examples of inability in a Sentence
She has shown an inability to concentrate.
the inability of the government to cope with the problem
Recent Examples on the Web
To me, this inability to effectively estimate and demonstrate the value of AI is a significant barrier to widespread adoption in enterprises.
—Raj Koneru, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Following Trump’s victory over Harris, that television moment underscored a fatal flaw of Harris’ campaign that doomed her election bid – an inability to separate herself from an unpopular president whose approval ratings have hovered around 40% for most of his four years in the White House.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
But charges were eventually dismissed due to prosecutors' inability to connect the skeleton with the adoptive parents.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 15 Nov. 2024
In a bloc where citizens of one state are broadly free to live in any of the others, the inability of authorities to work across borders creates ample opportunities for sanctions evasion.
—Agathe Demarais, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inability
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English inhabilite disqualification, from Medieval Latin inhabilitas, from Latin in- + habilitas ability
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of inability was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near inability
Cite this Entry
“Inability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inability. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
inability
noun
in·abil·i·ty
ˌin-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
: lack of ability, power, or means
his inability to carry a tune
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