1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
we have several inoperable cars on the property
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in useless
not capable of being put to use or account
a delightfully creative but inoperable plan for building a theme park in the area
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inoperable
Around then, his father sold an inoperable Dodge Dart.
—
Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
To make things harder for the Packers, the heaters on their sideline have been inoperable for much of the game, according to Fox Sports.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The heaters, as well as the offensive line’s heated bench, were inoperable for the visiting Packers, while the ones for the Bears were, Fox’s Erin Andrews reported during the second quarter.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
According to the complaint, two large and dangerous dogs from another neighborhood entered the community through the front gate, which was open and inoperable.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
To make things harder for the Packers, the heaters on their sideline have been inoperable for much of the game, according to Fox Sports.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The heaters, as well as the offensive line’s heated bench, were inoperable for the visiting Packers, while the ones for the Bears were, Fox’s Erin Andrews reported during the second quarter.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
According to the complaint, two large and dangerous dogs from another neighborhood entered the community through the front gate, which was open and inoperable.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
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Elk Creek Fire An initial investigation into the fire indicates it was caused in part by a malfunctioning gas generator and also high winds.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
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Its Care Team members replicate the roles of Apple Geniuses, helping people who come in with malfunctioning devices or other troubles.—
Julio Ojeda-Zapata,
Twin Cities,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Brown’s statement on Monday was mostly useless corporate-speak.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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This tiny amount of copper acts as a molecular steering wheel, preventing sugar molecules from shattering into useless carbon dioxide.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That’s about in-line with the Street estimate of 37% but represents another down tick from 38% in the reported quarter.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
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The three-piece set comes with a down-alternative comforter and two pillow shams made of 95 GSM polyester for a lightweight, breathable fabric that keeps moisture at bay—perfect for all-season use.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Unlike classical supercomputers, which excel at simulations and data-heavy tasks, quantum computers operate on fundamentally different principles, enabling new approaches to solving problems that are considered impractical using traditional computing methods.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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At first glance, the energy cost of swimming thousands of miles — often without stopping to feed or rest — seems both impractical and impossible.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Info menu indicates the right rear sensor is inoperative.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
10 Jan. 2026
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The agency has also probed 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles after reports of exterior door handles becoming inoperative due to low battery voltage, leading to instances of children stuck inside vehicles.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The next areas on your decluttering to-do list should be your kitchen cabinets and office drawers, which have a serious tendency to accumulate unused or outdated electronics, miscellaneous plugs, or frayed, unusable cords.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
25 Jan. 2026
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Data collected by Amnesty International’s Citizen Evidence Lab suggests that Israel deliberately used this incendiary substance in densely populated villages in southern Lebanon to push the civilians out and make their lands unusable.—
Josiane Yazbeck,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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When heading out to look for lamps, take a lightbulb along to test them in-store, but also consider rewiring nonfunctional pieces.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
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Much of it eventually became nonfunctional.—
Matt Randolph,
Forbes.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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These turbines operate effectively in regions unsuitable for conventional wind farms, including mountainous terrain and remote coastal areas.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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