Adjacent Words

incapable definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: (followed by `of') lacking capacity or ability; "incapable of carrying a tune"; "he is incapable of understanding the matter"; "incapable of doing the work" [ant: capable]
2: not being susceptible to or admitting of something (usually followed by `of'); "incapable of solution"
3: (followed by `of') not having the temperament or inclination for; "simply incapable of lying" [ant: capable]
4: not meeting requirements; "unequal to the demands put upon him" [syn: incapable, incompetent, unequal to]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle French, from in- + capable capable Date: 1594 1. lacking capacity, ability, or qualification for the purpose or end in view: as a. archaic not able to take in, hold, or keep b. archaic not receptive c. not being in a state or of a kind to admit ; insusceptible d. not able or fit for the doing or performance ; incompetent 2. lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) ; disqualified • incapability noun • incapableness noun • incapably adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 (often foll. by of) a not capable. b lacking the required quality or characteristic (favourable or adverse) (incapable of hurting anyone). 2 not capable of rational conduct or of managing one's own affairs (drunk and incapable). Derivatives: incapability n. incapably adv. Etymology: F incapable or LL incapabilis (as IN-(1), capabilis CAPABLE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Incapable In*ca"pa*ble, n. One who is morally or mentally weak or inefficient; an imbecile; a simpleton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Incapable In*ca"pa*ble, a. [Pref. in- not + capable: cf. F. incapable, L. incapabilis incomprehensible.] 1. Wanting in ability or qualification for the purpose or end in view; not large enough to contain or hold; deficient in physical strength, mental or moral power, etc.; not capable; as, incapable of holding a certain quantity of liquid; incapable of endurance, of comprehension, of perseverance, of reform, etc. 2. Not capable of being brought to do or perform, because morally strong or well disposed; -- used with reference to some evil; as, incapable of wrong, dishonesty, or falsehood. 3. Not in a state to receive; not receptive; not susceptible; not able to admit; as, incapable of pain, or pleasure; incapable of stain or injury. 4. (Law) Unqualified or disqualified, in a legal sense; as, a man under thirty-five years of age is incapable of holding the office of president of the United States; a person convicted on impeachment is thereby made incapable of holding an office of profit or honor under the government. 5. (Mil.) As a term of disgrace, sometimes annexed to a sentence when an officer has been cashiered and rendered incapable of serving his country. Note: Incapable is often used elliptically. Is not your father grown incapable of reasonable affairs? --Shak. Syn: Incompetent; unfit; unable; insufficient; inadequate; deficient; disqualified. See Incompetent.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. Someone who is incapable of doing something is unable to do it. She seemed incapable of taking decisions... ? capable ADJ: v-link ADJ of -ing/n 2. An incapable person is weak or stupid. He lost his job for allegedly being incapable. ? capable ADJ

Moby Thesaurus

amputee, cripple, defective, deformity, disqualified, dull tool, greenhorn, handicapped person, idiot, ill-equipped, ill-fitted, ill-furnished, ill-provided, ill-qualified, imbecile, impervious to, inadequate, incapable of, incompetent, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, inept, inferior, maladjusted, mediocrity, no conjuror, not equal to, not up to, paralytic, paraplegic, quadriplegic, the crippled, the handicapped, unable, unable to, unadapted, unadjusted, unarmed, unendowed, unequal to, unequipped, unfit, unfitted, ungifted, unprovided, unqualified, unsuited, untalented