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
The small park's inoperable decorative fountain will be replaced by a paved space, better suited for hosting events; its perimeter will be more defined, including with seat walls; and its green space and trees will be maintained.
—
Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh.
—Jonathan Mattise, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Finally, after Mason let fans know there was an electrical circuit issue and the video board would be inoperable for the remainder of the game, the crowd broke out in a collective cheer as the buzzer finally turned off and basketball could resume.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the rifle was rendered inoperable before Jalloh left the store, unbeknownst to Jalloh.
—Jonathan Mattise, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Finally, after Mason let fans know there was an electrical circuit issue and the video board would be inoperable for the remainder of the game, the crowd broke out in a collective cheer as the buzzer finally turned off and basketball could resume.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inoperable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoperable
Adjective
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Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem — a malfunctioning space toilet.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In a generally useless exercise, NFL draft analysts have delivered their annual grades.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
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What also follows is a useless debate over the cultural impact of the movie amid concerns that the film is a little loose with the truth or outright forgetful about key moments of Jackson’s complex and complicated life.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For minor sports, there is a down side to schools paying athletes playing for high-revenue programs like football and men’s basketball.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Apr. 2026
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Pedal to Shady Lane Cellars and Three Trees Vineyard, or detour down country roads (follow signage from the main trail) to visit Mawby Sparkling Wines and Black Star Farms, a winery and luxe inn.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Scientists typically test candidates one by one, making large-scale discovery impractical.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
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And it’s set in a snowy wintertime, which would have been impractical and expensive in live action, but pays all kinds of benefits in terms of staging and mood.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
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The antiskid system was inoperative, and all four main tires on the landing gear blew.—
Jeff Suess,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Jackson estate also had to shell out additional tens of millions after the third act was deemed unusable.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
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Supporters of the proposal also spoke at the meeting, saying that the current grass field has long been unusable and renovation is overdue.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This new statute requires various property owners, including HOAs, to either remove nonfunctional turf or begin irrigating it with reclaimed water.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Three months later, the plant remained nonfunctional Thursday night, reducing the Cheboygan dam's ability to pass floodwater that had climbed within five inches of its crest.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The team found that several 2D materials praised for their electronic properties may become unsuitable once they are built into real devices.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
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Lara’s pre-operative test results were abnormal, and revealed clear signs of keratoconus, making LASIK unsuitable.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inoperable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoperable. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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