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inability

inability

177 2.8
Not able to do something you need to do
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnəˈbɪləti/
translation icon : incapacidad
  • Her inability to express her feelings led to misunderstandings in the relationship.
  • inability to cope
  • inability to understand
  • inability to concentrate

The Android has an inability to make exceptions.

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Examples

  • And I have an absolute inability to trust anyone.

  • In the end, his greatest fault is his inability to understand women.

    Academic text (1990)
  • And the first is our nation's inability to do big things like this.

  • And you just see their inability to just simply be honest.

  • So more people are going to die because of the inability to get treated.

  • And I read that cat story about that girl's inability to ask for what she wanted.

  • And her inability to make a decision about anything.

  • What held her back was the inability to see it only from her own point of view.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • We see her frustration, her inability to truly enter the magic box of his world.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • You all have something in common-- that's your inability to live in harmony with those who you should love the most.

Synonyms

impossibility
vsinability
37 5.3

A situation in which something cannot happen

describes a person's lack of ability rather than something totally unable to happen
incapacity
vsinability
9 5.4

Not able to do things because your body or mind does not work well

is broader and not limited to physical or mental causes
powerlessness
vsinability
9 5.8

A feeling of being unable to control or change what happens

refers to any lack of ability, not specifically to control or influence
incompetency
vsinability
3 6.8

Lack of ability to do a job or task well

covers general lack of ability beyond task qualifications
incapability
vsinability
1 6.0

Not being able to do something because you lack the ability

focuses on the present lack of ability rather than future potential
incapableness
vsinability
7.4

A lack of ability to do something

is the same idea but framed only as a state rather than a quality
unfitness
vsinability
6.0

Not able or qualified to do a job

applies more generally and not only to role or strength suitability
inaptitude
vsinability
  • Formal
8.2

Lack of ability to do a task or job well

is broader, applying to lack of ability in general rather than specific tasks
nonproficiency
vsinability
7.9

Not enough skill to do something well

indicates a general lack of ability, not only low skill level
impuissance
vsinability
  • Literature
9.9

A feeling of being unable to change things

focuses more on ordinary lack of ability, not helplessness to act

Antonyms

1.0

Skill or power to do something

473 3.6

Ability to do something or develop a skill

How Able

expertise
302 4.9
competence
69 4.1
ability
1.0
inability
177 2.8

Surface Forms

inability singular
inabilities plural

Morphology

inability = ability (transparent) = in + able + ity

The noun clearly means the negation of 'ability' through the productive negative prefix 'in-'.

Etymology

Inability starts with in- ('not') and ends with ability ('power to do something'), which comes from able. So, inability simply means 'not able' or a lack of the skill or power to do something.