unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl 

: not able : incapable: such as

a

: unqualified, incompetent

b

: impotent, helpless

Synonyms of unable

• unfit
• unfitted
• incompetent
• incapable

Examples of unable in a Sentence

I was unable to afford the trip.

He was unable to play tennis after the injury.

Recent Examples on the Web

Organizers had been unable to renew their contract, and Stern suspected something was happening behind the scenes. — Dick Slaughter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Pi-o grieves the death of his friend, unable to get out of bed for days. — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Miami’s defense had some timely stops throughout the game, yet the offense was unable to reciprocate. — Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

The story follows Lowen, a struggling writer hired to complete the book series of renowned author Verity Crawford after an accident leaves Verity paralyzed and unable to communicate. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unable

• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label
• sable
• stabile
• stable
• table
• allocable
• educable
• irrigable
• purchasable

Kids Definition

unable

adjective

un·​able ˌən-ˈā-bəl 

ˈən-

: not able : incapable