Standard Lemma guide

incapable

adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɪnˈkeɪpəbl̩/
  • /ɪŋˈkeɪpəbl̩/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N K EY1 P AH0 B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Not capable (of doing something); unable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A pint glass is incapable of holding more than a pint of liquid.
  • I consider him incapable of dishonesty.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Not in a state to receive; not receptive; not susceptible; not able to admit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • incapable of pain, or pleasure; incapable of stain or injury

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

One who is morally or mentally weak or inefficient; an imbecile; a simpleton.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective

Meaning 4

(followed by `of') lacking capacity or ability

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • incapable of carrying a tune
  • he is incapable of understanding the matter
  • incapable of doing the work

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: capable

5

adjective

Meaning 5

(followed by `of') not having the temperament or inclination for

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • simply incapable of lying

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: capable

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

not meeting requirements

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • unequal to the demands put upon him

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: incompetent, unequal to(p)

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French incapable, equivalent to in- + capable.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عَاجِز (ʕājiz) — not being capable
  • Bulgarian: неспособен (nesposoben) — not being capable
  • Catalan: incapaç — not being capable
  • Esperanto: malkapabla — not being capable
  • Finnish: kyvytön — not being capable
  • Finnish: kykenemätön — not being capable
  • French: incapable — not being capable
  • Galician: incapaz — not being capable
  • Georgian: უძლური (uʒluri) — not being capable
  • Greek: ανίκανος (aníkanos) — not being capable
  • Hindi: असमर्थ (asmarth) — not being capable
  • Ido: nekapabla — not being capable
  • Japanese: できない (dekinai) — not being capable
  • Japanese: 無理な (muri na) — not being capable
  • Japanese: 不能な (funō na) — not being capable
  • Latin: incapax — not being capable
  • Pohnpeian: soakoahiek — not being capable
  • Polish: niezdolny — not being capable
  • Portuguese: incapaz — not being capable
  • Romanian: incapabil — not being capable
  • Sanskrit: अशक्त (aśakta) — not being capable
  • Serbo-Croatian: nesposoban — not being capable
  • Serbo-Croatian: nemoćan — not being capable
  • Spanish: incapaz — not being capable
  • Japanese: 無縁な (muen na) — not in a state to receive
  • Japanese: 拒む (kobamu) — not in a state to receive