unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl How to pronounce unable (audio)
Synonyms of unablenext
: not able : incapable: such as
a
: unqualified, incompetent
b
: impotent, helpless

Synonyms of unable

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Examples of unable in a Sentence

I was unable to afford the trip. He was unable to play tennis after the injury.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Police Chief Lawrence Revell said the area was so crowded at the time that ambulances were unable to get through. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Retirement starts before fuel runs out Waiting until the tank is empty can leave operators unable to dispose of a satellite safely. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 The country seems suspended in its aftermath, unable to separate the horrors of the past from the anxieties of the present. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026 If both fail, Netanyahu may be unable to continue as Prime Minister. — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unable

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unable was in the 14th century

Rhymes for unable

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Browse Nearby Words

unability
unable
Una boat
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Cite this Entry

“Unable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unable. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unable

adjective
un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl How to pronounce unable (audio)
ˈən-
: not able : incapable
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