as in ability
the physical or mental power to do something
questioned his competence to finish the task without help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of competence
Make demonstrated competence a source of evident admiration and unmistakable affirmation.
—
Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Jess, finally looking and sounding like a confident adult, directs the commercial with competence.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 11 July 2025
Power, in this world, no longer demands competence.
—arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
Critics have accused the regime of prioritizing ideological loyalty over competence, allowing individuals who simply mouthed hard-line slogans to rise through the ranks while concealing their true allegiances.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for competence
Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Jess, finally looking and sounding like a confident adult, directs the commercial with competence.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 11 July 2025
Power, in this world, no longer demands competence.
—arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
Critics have accused the regime of prioritizing ideological loyalty over competence, allowing individuals who simply mouthed hard-line slogans to rise through the ranks while concealing their true allegiances.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for competence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competence
Noun
-
Their ability to unify data, automate execution and adapt messaging at scale enables marketing teams to move faster, work smarter and engage customers more meaningfully than ever before.—
Aleks Farseev,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Francisco Alvarez is back from his stint in the minor leagues, more confident in his abilities at the plate and behind it.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
The completion of this $5.7 million project, the first step in a $600 million expansion that pushes the plant’s capacity to 50 million gallons per day, appears to be what the memorandum is referring to in regards to capacity expansion in August.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 July 2025
-
By the end of the year, 103,000 more pets had entered shelters than had exited, contributing to an ongoing capacity crisis in U.S. shelters.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Always Active These Cookies and SDKs are required for Service functionality, including security and fraud prevention, and to enable any purchasing capabilities.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 July 2025
-
The plush shearling lining felt soft on the skin and provided quality insulation and moisture-wicking capabilities, ensuring our feet remained dry and at a comfortable temperature while wearing throughout the day.—
Kevin Brouillard,
Travel + Leisure,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
But Padden rebutted that in her statement, noting that Galligan underwent two mental competency evaluations — one by the state Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health in 2024 and another by an independent psychiatrist in June.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
24 July 2025
-
While some haven’t been able to show a connection, others suggest dogs really are more likely to pick humans displaying traits such as generosity, competency, and niceness.—
Rosie McCall,
Discover Magazine,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Competence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competence. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share