How to Use inability in a Sentence

inability

noun
Definition of inabilitynext
Synonyms for inabilitynext
  • She has shown an inability to concentrate.
  • The inability to catch one's breath can be a scary thing.
    — Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2023
  • One of the worst parts of being homeless is the inability to keep clean.
    — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 May 2023
  • Just one more free throw than turnovers An inability to get to the free throw line struck again.
    — Jaden Lewis, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2024
  • And the inability to close out leads has robbed the Rangers of the chance to regain late-season momentum.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas News, 5 Sep. 2023
  • Among the reasons: the city’s inability to control mass tourism.
    — Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
  • The 21-year-old’s inability to throw strikes was alarming.
    — Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
  • Both say the inability to work and the sense of isolation has been difficult.
    — Megan Specia, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
  • As the show was announced, both Oliver, 46, and Meyers, 49, joked about their inability to attend the live show.
    — Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
  • But the issues at the back and inability to keep the ball continued for Portland as a brutal turnover in the 69th minute led to yet another goal for the Pride.
    — oregonlive, 12 June 2023
  • That was really my inability to just be with him, to be content and enjoy him.
    — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023
  • The victory stopped the bleeding after four straight losses, but the inability to put a lesser team away lingers.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2023
  • The response is inadequate due to a lack of partners in the field and the inability to replenish supplies.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
  • Trouble with the press and on the glass Butler's struggles from the field were exasperated by its inability to hold onto the ball.
    — Akeem Glaspie, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Jan. 2024
  • So far, it’s all been wasted … set aflame by the inability to hit with runners on, to hit in the clutch, to consistently hit, period.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2023
  • Another way to look at it is as a long history of Google’s inability to make its products make sense.
    — David Pierce, The Verge, 2 Apr. 2024
  • Many blamed the country’s inability to respond to the disaster on a government that’s been divided for the past decade.
    — Bradford Betz, Fox News, 22 Dec. 2023
  • The inability to win four consecutive games tells you that.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 July 2023
  • Since the playoffs ended in five non-competitive games against the Knicks, the Cavs have been forced to relive that series, lamenting an inability to give the Knicks their best shot.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2023
  • Advertisement That said, the Dodgers’ inability to further bolster their pitching staff will loom as a worry the rest of the season.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023
  • But in Milwaukee the inability of would-be homebuyers to find an affordable home to buy is one of the reasons for the city's persistent racial wealth gap.
    — Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 28 June 2023
  • At times he’s been more critical — dropping an F-bomb in a recent postgame news conference in reaction to the team’s inability to get to the free-throw line.
    — Calum McAndrew, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2024
  • The inability to found any discipline of social science akin to one of the natural sciences is a key feature of the spread of scientism in the modern world.
    — Jason Blakely, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023
  • The real hangup comes from our body’s ability (or inability) to produce sufficient enough amounts to process those cheesy cheat days.
    — Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2024
  • Being overweight or obese is complex, and many factors go into the reasons for weight gain and the ability, or inability, to lose weight.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2023
  • The inability to safely gather for concerts and performances was the source of much hand-wringing about the future of the music industry.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 8 July 2023
  • The inability to afford homes, the time and cost of commuting, and the shortage of school and elderly care places have put flourishing cities out of reach for many working people.
    — Ian Goldin, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
  • In court filings, Rosen cited the irreversible nature of the death penalty, and thus the inability to guarantee due process, as grounds for the petition.
    — Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
  • In those instances, the inability to connect can be harrowing, but that’s where the Iridium GO! exec can help.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023
  • But his inability to deal straight-on with the suicide of his father was poisoning him nonetheless.
    — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inability.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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