Library / English Dictionary

INABILITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking the power to perform

Synonyms:

inability; unfitness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("inability" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inability"):

unadaptability (the inability to change or be changed to fit changed circumstances)

insensitiveness; insensitivity (the inability to respond to affective changes in your interpersonal environment)

incompetence; incompetency (lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications)

incapability; incapableness (the quality of not being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally)

insufficiency ((pathology) inability of a bodily part or organ to function normally)

Antonym:

ability (the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lack of ability (especially mental ability) to do something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("inability" is a kind of...):

cognition; knowledge; noesis (the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inability"):

block; mental block (an inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension)

stupidity (a poor ability to understand or to profit from experience)

inaptitude (a lack of aptitude)

incapacity (lack of intellectual power)

unskillfulness (a lack of cognitive skill)

analphabetism; illiteracy (an inability to read)

uncreativeness (a lack of creativity)

incomprehension (an inability to understand)

Antonym:

ability (possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Issue associated with the inability of device and/or device components to achieve successful depolarization and contraction of a cardiac chamber caused by a pacemaker output pulse.

(Capturing Issue Medical Device Problem, Food and Drug Administration)

Total inability to hear sounds in one or both ears.

(Complete Deafness, NCI Thesaurus)

An inability to see clearly in dim light; due to a deficiency of vitamin A or to a retinal disorder.

(Night Blindness, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by an inability to see clearly in dim light.

(Night Blindness, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

The inability of the bone marrow to produce hematopoietic elements.

(Bone Marrow Failure, NCI Thesaurus)

But when they partly or completely block the intestines, they cause symptoms such as: • Severe abdominal pain or cramping • Vomiting • Bloating • An inability to pass gas • Constipation

(Adhesions, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Rate only increase in movement both in and out of mouth, not inability to sustain movement.

(AIMS - Tongue, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by the body's inability to break down and utilize the essential amino acid phenylalanine.

(Phenylketonuria, NCI Thesaurus)

Martin sent his inability to accept and his regrets by wire "collect."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Inability of the exocrine pancreas to produce and secrete an adequate amount of digestive enzymes into the small intestine.

(Pancreatic Insufficiency, NCI Thesaurus)