Synonyms for incapable
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Unable
unable, incompetent, inadequate, unfit, impotent, ineffective, unqualified, unfitted, unskilled
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Not capable (of doing something); unable.
I consider him incapable of dishonesty.
Related words
- Word family
- incapability incapableness incapacitate incapacitation
Choose the right word
Incompetent is a relative term, denoting a want of the requisite qualifications for performing a given act, service, etc.; incapable is absolute in its meaning, denoting want of power, either natural or moral.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- unable We are sorry we are unable to accept your request.
- inadequate At times like this, words are woefully inadequate.
- incompetent Incompetent people are the ones who talk the most.
- unfit All those products are unfit for human consumption.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| incapable | steady | |
| unable | steady | |
| inadequate | falling | |
| incompetent | falling | |
| unfit | falling | |
| insusceptible | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- unfit2
- 6 letters
- unable3
- 8 letters
- impotent3, unfitted
- 9 letters
- unskilled2
- 10 letters
- inadequate4
- 11 letters
- ineffective4, incompetent4, unqualified4
- 13 letters
- insusceptible
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (unfit2 = 2 syllables).