inoperable

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce inoperable (audio)
Definition of inoperablenext
1
as in malfunctioning
not being in working order we have several inoperable cars on the property

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 inoperable The aircraft was headed south when a malfunction caused the left engine to become inoperable, a Kansas Highway Patrol crash report said. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2026 The resulting flooding rendered the antenna inoperable. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 June 2026 In Park City, Utah, Rivian Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe in an exclusive interview on The Drivecast said with the launch of the mass-market R2 the team has worked service times down to hours for critical items, like if a car is inoperable, and to a couple of days for non-critical items. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 10 June 2026 According to the Los Angeles Times, Paris died of complications from an inoperable brain tumor in March 1986. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
  1. malfunctioning
  2. useless
  3. down
  4. impractical
  5. inoperative
  6. unusable
  7. nonfunctional
  8. unsuitable
Adjective
  • Oen Sujet’s catalog sounds equally like the product of a random number generator or a malfunctioning algorithm as of a deeply mercurial artist.
    — Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026
  • The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion.
    — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 24 May 2026
Definition of malfunctioning
Adjective
  • Such collisions could create fields of debris, potentially rendering entire areas of orbit useless.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • And yet, Paul can’t help but impose and offend, making even his expertise in home security sickeningly useless.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • Stock futures are falling this morning after a down day for Wall Street.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 July 2026
  • Thanks to a down year filled with injuries, Peter appeared in 38 NBA games and logged nearly 500 minutes as a rookie.
    — Tony East, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of down
Adjective
  • For a long time, our leading hypothesis was bullying and violence, but that may be a bit impractical, given their kingdoms are vast networks of tunnels that can stretch for up to three kilometers.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
  • Statement architectural features, like large windows and spiral staircases, are impractical for daily living.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
Definition of impractical
Adjective
  • If the main engines were to become inoperative, six smaller orbit-control thrusters can still be activated on the lunar surface, providing an alternative pathway for a rapid ascent.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 2026
  • And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.
    — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of inoperative
Adjective
  • Ossie then agrees to tell any of Camille and Robert Sims’s Raiders that his equipment’s busted and unusable.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • There are 10 public showers that have become unusable over time due to misuse by some residents.
    — Julimar Valentina Rivas Perez, NBC news, 24 July 2026
Definition of unusable
Adjective
  • Down the road from his house, drivers cautiously approached a nonfunctional traffic light on Hampstead Mexico Road that was impacted by an outage.
    — Gabriella Fine, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
  • The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said drivers should treat intersections with nonfunctional traffic signals as a four-way stop.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2026
Definition of nonfunctional
Adjective
  • More than half that land is owned by the district but is unsuitable for farming.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • Planting fruit trees in unsuitable spots may not just produce a poor harvest but could spell disaster for the tree.
    — Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of unsuitable

Browse Nearby Words

in one's cups
inoperable
inoperative
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Cite this Entry

“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of inoperable for Spanish Speakers

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