1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
we have several inoperable cars on the property
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account
a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of inoperable
The resulting flooding rendered the antenna inoperable.
—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
11 June 2026
In Park City, Utah, Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe in an exclusive interview on The Drivecast said with the launch of the mass-market R2 the team has worked service times down to hours for critical items, like if a car is inoperable, and to a couple of days for non-critical items.
—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
10 June 2026
According to the Los Angeles Times, Paris died of complications from an inoperable brain tumor in March 1986.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
11 June 2026
In Park City, Utah, Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe in an exclusive interview on The Drivecast said with the launch of the mass-market R2 the team has worked service times down to hours for critical items, like if a car is inoperable, and to a couple of days for non-critical items.
—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
10 June 2026
According to the Los Angeles Times, Paris died of complications from an inoperable brain tumor in March 1986.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
-
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.
-
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.
Adjective
-
At any rate, upon election my first official act would be to file legislation to do away with the useless job.
-
An ultra-secure cloud environment is useless if the identity management policy is lax or if access privileges are not reviewed on a strict need-to-know basis.
Adjective
-
If Rice and new running back Kenneth Walker can serve as the team’s early down answers that keep defenses honest, that should open up opportunity for Mahomes to finally see some open looks downfield again.
-
While last year was a down year compared to the year before, Ovechkin still appeared in all 82 games and potted 64 points, with 32 goals and 32 assists.
Adjective
-
Because large steel structures warp and expand under intense heat and magnetic forces, maintaining a tight seal between unjoined rings has previously been impractical.
-
That restriction makes Europe impractical for the traditional four- to six-month snowbird lifestyle many retirees prefer.
Adjective
-
If the main engines were to become inoperative, six smaller orbit-control thrusters can still be activated on the lunar surface, providing an alternative pathway for a rapid ascent.
-
And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.
Adjective
-
But nothing is at a significant disadvantage or plain unusable because of Artifact champion mod choice.
-
Recycle or toss only what is genuinely unusable.
Adjective
-
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said drivers should treat intersections with nonfunctional traffic signals as a four-way stop.
-
Critics alleged inhumane conditions, including poor food, nonfunctional toilets and a lack of access to attorneys.
Adjective
-
The dogs were found to be living in unsuitable conditions, while the puppies were suffering from malnutrition, and a number of the dogs had additional medical conditions as well.
-
In 2023 the agency documented signs of stress in sloths during public encounters, improper handling of a juvenile kangaroo and environmental conditions deemed unsuitable for a sloth’s care.
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
