unable Meaning & Definition
What Does Unable Mean?
Unable is an adjective that means not able. It is also used to mean unqualified, incompetent.
Unable at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˌən-ˈā-bəl/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Synonyms | impotent, ineffectual and ineffective |
| Antonyms | entity, respire and breathe |
| Comparative / superlative | unabler, unablest |
Unable Definition (Adjective)
- not able : incapable: such as
- unqualified, incompetent
- impotent, helpless
Synonyms of Unable
Antonyms of Unable
Unable in a Sentence
Are you unable to mind your own business or something?
"November three seven kilo, climb and maintain twelve thousand." "Unable, we have pressurization problems. Maintaining nine thousand."
a celebrated author of serious plays, he turned out to be a particularly unable writer of comedies
Word Forms & Grammar
unable
unable (comparative unabler or more unable, superlative unablest or most unable)
unable (third-person singular simple present unables, present participle unabling, simple past and past participle unabled)
Words That Rhyme With Unable
Origin of Unable
Origin 1: From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.
Origin 2: From Middle English unablen, equivalent to un- + able.
First Known Use
14th century
Pronouncing Unable
You say unable as /ˌən-ˈā-bəl/. It has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (ā).
Frequently Asked Questions About Unable
What part of speech is unable?
Unable is an adjective.
What is another word for unable?
Words with a similar meaning to unable include impotent, ineffectual and ineffective. See the full list of unable synonyms and antonyms.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of unable?
The comparative form is unabler and the superlative form is unablest.