incapacity
State of powerlessness
Incapacity is the state of being unable to do something—lacking the capacity for it.
The word often appears in legal and medical contexts: mental incapacity may prevent someone from making binding decisions, while physical incapacity might qualify a person for disability benefits.
Unlike inability, which simply notes that something can't be done, incapacity suggests a more fundamental or lasting limitation.
Lack of capacity
- ineptitudeLack of ability
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- ineffectivenessFailure to achieve results
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
unskilled · untrained · inexperienced · amateurish · bungling · clumsy · maladroit · fumbling
Limit on action
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- inabilityLack of capacity
insufficiency · shortcoming · inadequacy · ceiling · threshold · curtailment · impediment · obstacle
Weakness of body
- feeblenessLack of strength
- debilityImpaired strength or vitality
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- fragilityEase of breaking
powerlessness · helplessness · enervation · exhaustion · fatigue · prostration · languor · lethargy
Diminished function or capacity
- handicapImposed competitive disadvantage
- dysfunctionAbnormal or unhealthy operation
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- debilitationLoss of strength or vitality
infirmity · affliction · deficiency · atrophy · disorder · amnesia · dyslexia · epilepsy
Lack of skill
- disqualificationRemoval from eligibility
- ineligibilityFailure to meet criteria
- unsoundnessLack of stability or validity
- guardianshipLegal care of another
State of not knowing
- inexperienceLack of prior exposure
- unfamiliarityLack of prior knowledge
- incomprehensionLack of understanding
- unconsciousnessComplete lack of awareness
naiveté · cluelessness · illiteracy · obliviousness · unpreparedness · greenness · rawness
inability
Lack of capacity
- ineptitudeLack of ability
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- ineffectivenessFailure to achieve results
unqualified · unskilled · untrained · inexperienced · amateurish · bungling · clumsy · maladroit · fumbling · inefficiency
restriction
Limit on action
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- hindranceBarrier to progress
inability · insufficiency · shortcoming · inadequacy · ceiling · threshold · curtailment · impediment · obstacle · cap
frailty
Weakness of body
- feeblenessLack of strength
- debilityImpaired strength or vitality
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
fragility · powerlessness · helplessness · enervation · exhaustion · fatigue · prostration · languor · lethargy · decrepitude
impairment
Diminished function or capacity
- handicapImposed competitive disadvantage
- dysfunctionAbnormal or unhealthy operation
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
debilitation · infirmity · affliction · deficiency · atrophy · disorder · amnesia · dyslexia · epilepsy · quadriplegia
incompetency
Lack of skill
- disqualificationRemoval from eligibility
- ineligibilityFailure to meet criteria
- unsoundnessLack of stability or validity
unawareness
State of not knowing
- inexperienceLack of prior exposure
- unfamiliarityLack of prior knowledge
- incomprehensionLack of understanding
unconsciousness · naiveté · cluelessness · illiteracy · obliviousness · unpreparedness · greenness · rawness
- impairmentsimpairment, disability, paralysis, blindness, deafness
- Incompetencebungle, failure, botch, inability, blunder
- weaknessesweakness, flaw, failing, defect, shortcoming
- legal statuslegal status, civil status, personhood, legal entity, legal identity
- contract lawobligation, performance, breach, contract terms, consideration
- contract defectsduress, fraud, misrepresentation, mistake, nullity
incapacitycapacity
Maximum amount containable
capability · ability · competence · aptitude · proficiency
incapacitycompetence
Adequate ability to function
capacity · fitness · mental competence · legal capacity · soundness
- mental incapacityInability to reason adequately