Incapable means unablenot able to do a task or action to do something, or not suitedappropriate or fitting for a particular purpose to something. It can also mean not able to be affected by something, or not inclinedlikely or disposed to behave in a certain way to do a certain thing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
Easy pronunciation: in-KAY-puh-buhl (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the second syllable: KAY.
Primary sense: adjective meaning unable to do something; especially followed by of.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Incapable Meaning
unable to do something
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: (followed by of) lacking the ability or skill to do something
Example: She was incapable of finishing the race.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- incompetent — Works when someone lacks the ability needed for a task, though it can sound stronger and more negative.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Incapable
Meaning 2
not good enough for a task or role
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: not meeting requirements
Example: He was incapable of handling the responsibility.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- unequal to — Used when someone is not up to a particular task or challenge.
- incompetent — Can fit this sense, but often refers more broadly to poor ability or poor performance.
Meaning 3
not able to be changed, solved, or affected in a certain way
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: not being susceptible to or admitting of something
Example: The problem seemed incapable of solution.
Meaning 4
not the kind of person who would do something
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: (followed by of) not having the temperament or inclination for
Example: He was simply incapable of lying.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Incapable Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- incompetent
- unequal to
not meeting requirements
- unequal to
- incompetent
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse incapable with incapable of meaning 'not able to be affected by' or 'not inclined to'—those are different senses.
- Incapable usually needs of before the thing someone cannot do: incapable of driving, incapable of understanding.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does incapable mean in simple English?
It means not able to do something, or not suited to something.
What is the most common meaning of incapable?
The most common meaning is 'unable to do something,' especially in the phrase incapable of + verb or noun.
What are synonyms for incapable?
In the main sense, synonyms can include incompetent and, in some contexts, unequal to.
Is incapable always about ability?
No. It can also mean something cannot be changed or affected in a certain way, or that someone would never do something because of their temperament.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
