How to Use unable in a Sentence

unable

adjective
  • I was unable to afford the trip.
  • He was unable to play tennis after the injury.
  • But this time, Texas was unable to punch first.
    — Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 3 Apr. 2026
  • And 10% were unable to make a choice.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Belly is unable to do so and the two part ways.
    — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • But the state was unable to act on many of these complaints.
    — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
  • His friends tried to rescue him, but were unable to.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Still unable to get to the survey, though?
    — The Athletic, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Still unable to get to the survey?
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 12 May 2026
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2026
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 June 2026
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 Oct. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 Sep. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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