incapable
Lacking the ability
Incapable means lacking the ability or capacity to do something: He seemed incapable of telling the truth.
The word often implies a fundamental limitation rather than a temporary obstacle—someone incapable of love has a deeper problem than someone currently unable to express it.
Incapable can also mean incompetent or unfit: The board found her incapable of managing the company's finances.
Unable to act independently
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
- weakLacking power or force
- feebleWeak and ineffective
- defenselessWithout means to resist
vulnerable · paralyzed · debilitated · enfeebled · overwhelmed · hamstrung · prostrate · dependent
Lacking skill or competence
- unskilledLacking acquired competence
- bunglingMishandling through incompetence
- clumsyLacking physical coordination
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
unqualified · untrained · amateur · maladroit · bumbling · fumbling · blundering · amateurish
Not fitting or appropriate
- unsuitedNot appropriate for
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- inadequateNot sufficient for purpose
ill-equipped · unprepared · unready · not equal to · lacking · wanting · deficient · falling short
Lacks the ability
- impossibleIncapable of occurring
- preventedStopped before occurrence
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
- prohibitedOfficially not permitted
barred · restricted · hampered · hindered · obstructed · thwarted · stymied · precluded
helpless
Unable to act independently
defenseless · vulnerable · paralyzed · debilitated · enfeebled · overwhelmed · hamstrung · prostrate · dependent · frail
inept
Lacking skill or competence
- unskilledLacking acquired competence
- bunglingMishandling through incompetence
- clumsyLacking physical coordination
ineffective · unqualified · untrained · amateur · maladroit · bumbling · fumbling · blundering · amateurish · unproficient
unsuitable
Not fitting or appropriate
- unsuitedNot appropriate for
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
inadequate · ill-equipped · unprepared · unready · not equal to · lacking · wanting · deficient · falling short
cannot
Lacks the ability
- impossibleIncapable of occurring
- preventedStopped before occurrence
- blockedPassage prevented or impeded
prohibited · barred · restricted · hampered · hindered · obstructed · thwarted · stymied · precluded · disqualified
- IN- wordsinactive, incomplete, invisible, inside, indoor
- unreadyunprepared, ill-prepared, ill-equipped, unready, not ready
- functional statusfunctional, impaired, independent, dependent, disabled
- skill levelsbeginner, novice, intermediate, expert, advanced
- incapacitatedunconscious, knocked out, out cold, passed out, comatose
- Independence Levelsself-sufficient, autonomous, self-reliant, codependent, dependent