Synonyms for inability
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Incapability
incapability, incapacity, inadequacy, incompetence, incompetency, unfitness, impossibility, powerlessness, inefficiency, disqualification, disability dated
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Lack of the ability to do something; incapability.
Forms
- Plural
- inabilities → incapabilities, incapacities, inadequacies, incompetences…
Choose the right word
Inability is an inherent want of power to perform the thing in question; disability arises from some deprivation or loss of the needed competency.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- incompetence We lost the case due to the lawyer's incompetence.
- incapacity Angst is the fear of our own incapacity for peace.
- inadequacy Stop throwing my inadequacy in my face!
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| inability | steady | |
| incompetence | steady | |
| incapacity | falling | |
| inadequacy | falling | |
| incapability | steady | |
| unability | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 9 letters
- unfitness, unability
- 10 letters
- disability5, incapacity5, inadequacy5, unableness
- 12 letters
- incompetence4, inefficiency5, incompetency5, incapability
- 13 letters
- impossibility6, powerlessness4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (disability5 = 5 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- incapacité
- Italiano
- incapacità
- Español
- incapacidad
- Deutsch
- Unfähigkeit