as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
hired a supremely incapable assistant who only made a mess of things
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Recent Examples of incapable
Trump has said environmental protection should be left to the states, ignoring the fact that Nixon created the U.S. EPA in part because federal officials had concluded states were incapable of holding polluters accountable or were unwilling to do so.
—
Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
The Twins needed to bang their way to victories, but were incapable of doing so.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Does this mean that the CEO coach is not psychologically adept and incapable of digging deep?
—Dr. John Blakey, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
In the first four episodes, Newsom seems incapable of interrogating any right-wing position—whether on tariffs, book bans, trans women in sports, wokeness, or the mess at the border.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapable
Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
The Twins needed to bang their way to victories, but were incapable of doing so.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Does this mean that the CEO coach is not psychologically adept and incapable of digging deep?
—Dr. John Blakey, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
In the first four episodes, Newsom seems incapable of interrogating any right-wing position—whether on tariffs, book bans, trans women in sports, wokeness, or the mess at the border.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapable
Adjective
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There were cries of a rotten system and in its recent lawsuit against the tennis authorities, the PTPA has belittled the current system as unfit for purpose.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Once a game has started, the lead umpire determines whether it should be suspended as well as when it can be resumed or terminated because of bad weather or unfit playing conditions.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The police department’s insufficient and incompetent investigation cannot stand.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2025
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After almost a year of being declared incompetent, her trial began in April 2023.—
Miguel Torres,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The in-person requirement was slated to go into effect on April 14, and applied to Social Security recipients unable to prove their identities online.—
Anne Marie Drummond Lee,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Applications for Real IDs will still be accepted after the deadline; those who haven't obtained their Real ID by May 7 will be unable to use it for travel or access to federal facilities until it is processed and issued.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapable. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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