competences

noun

plural of competence
as in abilities
the physical or mental power to do something questioned his competence to finish the task without help

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of competences These parties’ platforms vary, but both point toward repatriating competences to national governments, weakening European Court of Justice jurisdiction, and loosening the common rules that make EU commitments credible to outside partners. — Jonas Nahm, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026 Over billions of years, increasingly greater competences evolved. — Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competences
  1. abilities
  2. competencies
Noun
  • The Pan America is a great touring bike with quite decent off-road abilities – which, just quietly, is what the GS is and has.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In recent weeks, some leading AI firms have warned that their models’ coding abilities could foment humanity’s demise.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of abilities
Noun
  • Building curriculum in partnership with employers that blends technical training with the workplace habits and human competencies that define on-the-job success is part of what makes these pathways work.
    — Philip Weinberg, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Gemma and Richard are composites drawn from our several decades of advising organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to smaller nonprofits on designing interview processes that assess leadership and interpersonal competencies.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of competencies

Browse Nearby Words

competence
competences
competencies
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Cite this Entry

“Competences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competences. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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