as in ability
the physical or mental power to do something
questioned his competence to finish the task without help
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of competence
Tasked with guarding Kawhi Leonard, who was playing MVP-caliber basketball coming into the game, Green provided not just consistent competence but dominance.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
That will change, inevitably, not as a byproduct of the organization’s own competence or success, but as a result of the scale of its failure.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
But the former controller, despite her air of competence and decency, hasn’t been able to attract support above the low single digits.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competence
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
That will change, inevitably, not as a byproduct of the organization’s own competence or success, but as a result of the scale of its failure.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
But the former controller, despite her air of competence and decency, hasn’t been able to attract support above the low single digits.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Incredible displays of competence and poise under pressure hold the film’s plot, but Red October’s leading men are thoughtful and introspective in the quiet moments, which feels atypical for the genre.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for competence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competence
Noun
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Is there a better gift to future generations than the ability to see the universe, dream and be inspired again?—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Maxey and George have had to carry almost all of Philadelphia’s offensive responsibility, and the 76ers desperately need Embiid’s ability to create offense and gravity in half-court situations.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Saudi Arabia’s East-West Petroline pipeline is operating near its 7 million-barrel-per-day capacity, with expansion plans under review.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Leland Dudek is former acting commissioner of Social Security, writing in his personal capacity.—
Leland Dudek,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Speed and maneuverability reshape strike capability Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds above Mach 5, or above 3,800 miles per hour.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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Pair that capability with predictive pricing software, and a store can change what you're charged in real-time based on whatever the algorithm decides at that moment.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Health care providers must improve cultural competency and recognize how this disease presents in Black patients.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Structured interviews, where each interviewer focuses on specific competencies, can also improve efficiency during the hiring process.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Competence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competence. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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