Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Lacking the necessary power, authority, or means; not able; incapable: unable to get to town without a car.
- adj. Lacking mental or physical capability or efficiency; incompetent: unable to walk.
- adj. Usage Problem Not susceptible to action or treatment: a project unable to be financed with government funds. See Usage Note at able.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Not able; not having sufficient strength, means, knowledge, skill, or the like; impotent; weak; helpless; incapable; -- now usually followed by an infinitive or an adverbial phrase.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. (usually followed by `to') not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
- adj. lacking in power or forcefulness
- adj. (usually followed by `to') lacking necessary physical or mental ability
Examples
“How it can be argued that the Met (or IPCC) did nothing Nicola FISHER, to get specific about just ONE example, when the sergeants who struck her was suspended and criminally prosecuted, I remain unable to explain.”
Police Complaints – The Shocking Truth! « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG
“I graduated early and spent the next two years as a shut-in unable to go outside without feeling as if people only saw the color of my skin.”
The Huffington Post: Russell Bishop: Can Comedians Really Lead Us to Sanity and Civility?
“Very often the way the twins are joined is terribly difficult: at the top of the head, sharing organs, or with one twin unable to function because of their relationship to the other child.”
“Even though many find their practices distasteful, they remain unable to substitute normal sexual behavior for them.”
“Obama is such a diehard Sox fan on national TV he could not name one, is that worse than Pailin unable to mention a magazine she reads?”
““Intolerant: unable or unwilling to endure,” as in unable or unwilling to endure the thought that there might possibly be an episode of a show that is better than an episode of Lost.”
“Although it is a readable and stimulating piece (as it would be if Bryan wrote about paint drying), I remain unable to "get" popular culture.”
“Min still sat cross-legged on the bed in her snug green silk breeches, by her expression unable to decide between approval and frustration.”
A Crown of Swords
“As a result, you have a distorted picture of a Britain unable to meet her liabilities, indulging in extravagances, like Health Insurance, Social Services, and all that kind of thing. ”
“General > International (whatever these might be in German -- unable to help there).”
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