Incapable
adjective
Not able to do something or to achieve something.
He is incapable of telling the truth.
Often appears as...
- incapable of understanding
- incapable of change
adjective
Not having necessary ability or strength to perform or withstand a certain action or situation.
Due to his illness, he is incapable of physical exertion.
Often appears as...
- incapable of physical activity
- incapable of strenuous exercise
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Not having legal ability, competence, or qualification to perform an official act.
She was declared legally incapable of managing her own affairs.
Often appears as...
- incapable of managing affairs
- incapable of signing documents
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Not able to do something or to achieve something.
He is incapable of telling the truth.
Often appears as...
- incapable of understanding
- incapable of change
adjective
Not having necessary ability or strength to perform or withstand a certain action or situation.
Due to his illness, he is incapable of physical exertion.
Often appears as...
- incapable of physical activity
- incapable of strenuous exercise
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Not having legal ability, competence, or qualification to perform an official act.
She was declared legally incapable of managing her own affairs.
Often appears as...
- incapable of managing affairs
- incapable of signing documents
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Weight
Incapable often carries a suggestion of failure or deficiency.
After many tries, he felt incapable of success.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Limitations
Use it to describe a person's limits without specifying a reason.
They're incapable of carrying heavy weights.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasizes Inability
Highlight someone's inability in a specific situation.
He's incapable of committing to any plan.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Weight
Incapable often carries a suggestion of failure or deficiency.
After many tries, he felt incapable of success.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Limitations
Use it to describe a person's limits without specifying a reason.
They're incapable of carrying heavy weights.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasizes Inability
Highlight someone's inability in a specific situation.
He's incapable of committing to any plan.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Weight
Incapable often carries a suggestion of failure or deficiency.
After many tries, he felt incapable of success.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Limitations
Use it to describe a person's limits without specifying a reason.
They're incapable of carrying heavy weights.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasizes Inability
Highlight someone's inability in a specific situation.
He's incapable of committing to any plan.
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Video examples
Success, failure and the...
of fame and recognition and praise. And one of these fates is objectively seen by the world as bad, and the other one is objectively seen by the world as good, but your subconscious is completely incapable of discerning the difference between bad and good. The only thing that it is capable of feeling
Video examples
How to practice...
Are you aware of how your mind reacts to failure? You need to be. Because if your mind tries to convince you you're incapable of something, and you believe it, then like those two toddlers, you'll begin to feel helpless and you'll stop trying too soon, or you won't even try at all.
Video examples
India's invisible...
with a few exceptions are incapable of producing students the quantity and quality needed to keep this innovation engine going so companies are finding innovative ways to overcome this but in the end it does not absolve the government of the responsibility for creating this
Video examples
What it's like to have...
Because the ability to speak and the ability to sing lay in two separate parts of the brain, her doctors brought in music therapists to work with her. The therapists encouraged her to sing her thoughts, since she was incapable of speaking them. And through this technique,
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
did not endear me to the faculty. In effect, a vicious cycle of fear, avoidance, mistrust and misunderstanding had been established, and this was a battle in which I felt powerless and incapable of establishing any kind of peace or reconciliation.
Video examples
How Hip Hop taught my...
for truly esteeming and exploring the value of difference on its own terms you see the problem with standard forms is not that we are incapable of acquiring them is that they so often fail to incorporate the genius that is available
Video examples
Eric X. Li: A tale of...
The opposites are true. Adaptability, meritocracy, and legitimacy are the three defining characteristics of China's one-party system. Now, most political scientists will tell us that a one-party system is inherently incapable
Video examples
Grand Canyon Adventure:...
that we were capable of telling a story that they thought was incredibly important, and they were equally aware of the fact that this environment is so difficult physically that we would be incapable of moving through it
Video examples
Why are These Capuchin's...
doing it but despite their obvious intelligence this male seems incapable of taking a hint males of most species rarely need to be asked more than once
Video examples
Best of South American...
it but despite their obvious intelligence this male seems incapable of taking a hint males of most species rarely need to be asked more than once
Video examples
Success, failure and the...
of fame and recognition and praise. And one of these fates is objectively seen by the world as bad, and the other one is objectively seen by the world as good, but your subconscious is completely incapable of discerning the difference between bad and good. The only thing that it is capable of feeling
Video examples
How to practice...
Are you aware of how your mind reacts to failure? You need to be. Because if your mind tries to convince you you're incapable of something, and you believe it, then like those two toddlers, you'll begin to feel helpless and you'll stop trying too soon, or you won't even try at all.
Video examples
India's invisible...
with a few exceptions are incapable of producing students the quantity and quality needed to keep this innovation engine going so companies are finding innovative ways to overcome this but in the end it does not absolve the government of the responsibility for creating this
Video examples
What it's like to have...
Because the ability to speak and the ability to sing lay in two separate parts of the brain, her doctors brought in music therapists to work with her. The therapists encouraged her to sing her thoughts, since she was incapable of speaking them. And through this technique,
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
did not endear me to the faculty. In effect, a vicious cycle of fear, avoidance, mistrust and misunderstanding had been established, and this was a battle in which I felt powerless and incapable of establishing any kind of peace or reconciliation.
Video examples
How Hip Hop taught my...
for truly esteeming and exploring the value of difference on its own terms you see the problem with standard forms is not that we are incapable of acquiring them is that they so often fail to incorporate the genius that is available
Video examples
Eric X. Li: A tale of...
The opposites are true. Adaptability, meritocracy, and legitimacy are the three defining characteristics of China's one-party system. Now, most political scientists will tell us that a one-party system is inherently incapable
Video examples
Grand Canyon Adventure:...
that we were capable of telling a story that they thought was incredibly important, and they were equally aware of the fact that this environment is so difficult physically that we would be incapable of moving through it
Video examples
Why are These Capuchin's...
doing it but despite their obvious intelligence this male seems incapable of taking a hint males of most species rarely need to be asked more than once
Video examples
Best of South American...
it but despite their obvious intelligence this male seems incapable of taking a hint males of most species rarely need to be asked more than once
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jeh Johnson
American Public Servant
It's better for candidates to suggest ideas that are responsible, not ones that are incapable of being executed. People are influenced by what their leaders tell them. And bringing the level of rhetoric down brings the temperature down.
Quote examples
Ivor Novello
Welsh Musician
Actors who are lovers in real life are often incapable if playing the part of lovers to an audience. It is equally true that sympathy between actors who are not lovers may create a temporary emotion that is perfectly sincere.
Quote examples
Joshua Malina
American Actor
I'm incapable of truly relaxing. I remember when I was younger and less wise or experienced, actors that I knew would always talk about jobs ending and wondering whether they were ever going to work again. Now that's my life.
Quote examples
Jacque Fresco
American Inventor
We are approaching a time when human intelligence alone will be incapable of managing a highly advanced society. Existing technologies are rapidly exceeding the human capacity to absorb and process information.
Quote examples
Jane Fonda
American Actress
I don't want to make a cheap analysis, but when you have, like I did, a father incapable of showing emotion, who spends his life telling you that no one will love you if you aren't perfect, it leaves scars.
Quote examples
Paloma Elsesser
I think self-love isn't some destination you get to and you are then incapable of feeling those feelings, but a journey in which you adapt your experiences to make for a happier life.
Quote examples
Rachel Cusk
Canadian Novelist
Even if they knew the truth of their own feelings, most mothers would be socially and emotionally incapable of revealing it.
Quote examples
Oliver Ellsworth
American Lawyer
A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them.
Quote examples
A. N. Wilson
English Writer
People become dons because they are incapable of doing anything else in life.
Quote examples
Jerry Della Femina
American Businessman
The French are simply incapable of telling the truth.
Quote examples
Jeh Johnson
American Public Servant
It's better for candidates to suggest ideas that are responsible, not ones that are incapable of being executed. People are influenced by what their leaders tell them. And bringing the level of rhetoric down brings the temperature down.
Quote examples
Ivor Novello
Welsh Musician
Actors who are lovers in real life are often incapable if playing the part of lovers to an audience. It is equally true that sympathy between actors who are not lovers may create a temporary emotion that is perfectly sincere.
Quote examples
Joshua Malina
American Actor
I'm incapable of truly relaxing. I remember when I was younger and less wise or experienced, actors that I knew would always talk about jobs ending and wondering whether they were ever going to work again. Now that's my life.
Quote examples
Jacque Fresco
American Inventor
We are approaching a time when human intelligence alone will be incapable of managing a highly advanced society. Existing technologies are rapidly exceeding the human capacity to absorb and process information.
Quote examples
Jane Fonda
American Actress
I don't want to make a cheap analysis, but when you have, like I did, a father incapable of showing emotion, who spends his life telling you that no one will love you if you aren't perfect, it leaves scars.
Quote examples
Paloma Elsesser
I think self-love isn't some destination you get to and you are then incapable of feeling those feelings, but a journey in which you adapt your experiences to make for a happier life.
Quote examples
Rachel Cusk
Canadian Novelist
Even if they knew the truth of their own feelings, most mothers would be socially and emotionally incapable of revealing it.
Quote examples
Oliver Ellsworth
American Lawyer
A people cannot long retain their freedom, whose government is incapable of protecting them.
Quote examples
A. N. Wilson
English Writer
People become dons because they are incapable of doing anything else in life.
Quote examples
Jerry Della Femina
American Businessman
The French are simply incapable of telling the truth.
Example 1 of 10
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