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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Recent Examples of unable
Kansas officials insist their top priority is ensuring the franchises stay in the region, as Missouri lawmakers have so far been unable to devise a voter-friendly plan to pay for new stadiums.
—
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025
Newsweek has been unable to verify and confirm if both her federal and state record has been expunged.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Aimee testified, and perhaps for the first time in her life, was unable to use her words to sway an audience.
—Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Due to those incidents, and a number of other brushes with the law, until last year Jelly was unable to secure a passport in order to book shows outside of the U.S. due to legal restrictions on travel by former felons.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unable
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025
Newsweek has been unable to verify and confirm if both her federal and state record has been expunged.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Aimee testified, and perhaps for the first time in her life, was unable to use her words to sway an audience.
—Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Due to those incidents, and a number of other brushes with the law, until last year Jelly was unable to secure a passport in order to book shows outside of the U.S. due to legal restrictions on travel by former felons.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unable
Adjective
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Just like an organization being certain that other players are unfit for the harsh glare of intense games in April.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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The injunction request stated the premises were unfit for occupancy and owners did not have a valid city business license.—
Samantha Moilanen,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The oligarchy is almost as incompetent and out of touch as is Trump.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2025
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Lawyers for Mike Jeffries, 80, are hoping to place him in the custody of the Attorney General for further evaluation 1 Comments Lawyers for ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries filed a motion on Thursday saying that their client is mentally incompetent to stand trial.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Rats, for example, are incapable of vomiting, which is why rat poison works so well.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
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This definition also includes instance in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity (include due to the influence of drugs or alcohol) or because of age.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unable. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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