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incapable

[ in-key-puh-buhl ]
/ ɪnˈkeɪ pə bəl /
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See synonyms for: incapable / incapability on Thesaurus.com
adjective
not capable.
not having the necessary ability, qualification, or strength to perform some specified act or function: As an administrator, he is simply incapable.
without ordinary capability; incompetent.
noun
a thoroughly incompetent person, especially one of defective mentality.
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Idioms about incapable

    incapable of,
    1. not having the ability, qualification, or strength for (a specified act or function).
    2. not open to; not susceptible to or admitting: These materials are incapable of exact measurement.
    3. legally unqualified for.

Origin of incapable

From the Late Latin word incapābilis, dating back to 1585–95. See in-3, capable

synonym study for incapable

1. Incapable, incompetent, inefficient, unable are applied to a person or thing that is lacking in ability, preparation, or power for whatever is to be done. Incapable usually means inherently lacking in ability or power: incapable of appreciating music; a bridge incapable of carrying heavy loads. Incompetent, generally used only of persons, means unfit or unqualified for a particular task: incompetent as an administrator. Inefficient means wasteful in the use of effort or power: an inefficient manager; inefficient methods. Unable usually refers to a temporary condition of inability to do some specific thing: unable to relax, to go to a concert.

OTHER WORDS FROM incapable

in·ca·pa·bil·i·ty, in·ca·pa·ble·ness, nounin·ca·pa·bly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to incapable

impotent, inadequate, incompetent, ineffective, ineligible, naive, powerless, unable, unfit, unqualified, unsuited, weak, butterfingers, disqualified, feeble, inept, inexperienced, inexpert, insufficient, losing

How to use incapable in a sentence

  • It became monumental, an emblem of vague incapabilities which I would have to face until the end of my days.

    The Prairie Wife|Arthur Stringer

  • These shops were not unlike our New England country stores in their combined odors and confused incapabilities.

    An American Girl Abroad|Adeline Trafton

British Dictionary definitions for incapable

incapable
/ (ɪnˈkeɪpəbəl) /
adjective
(when postpositive, often foll by of) not capable (of); lacking the ability (to)
powerless or helpless, as through injury or intoxication
(postpositive foll by of) not susceptible (to); not admitting (of)a problem incapable of solution

Derived forms of incapable

incapability or incapableness, nounincapably, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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