Different word for ability

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 3 votes

1. ability

   Power is the most general term of this group, including every quality, property, or faculty by which any change, effect, or result is, or may be, produced; as, the power of the legislature to enact laws, or of the executive to enforce them; the power of an acid to corrode a metal; the power of a polished surface to reflect light. Ability is nearly coextensive with power, but does not reach the positiveness and vigor that may be included in the meaning of power, ability often implying latent, as distinguished from active power; we speak of an exertion of power, but not of an exertion of ability. Power and ability include capacity, which is power to receive; but ability is often distinguished from capacity, as power that may be manifested in doing, as capacity is in receiving; one may have great capacity for acquiring knowledge, and yet not possess ability to teach. Efficiency is active power to effect a definite result, the power that actually does, as distinguished from that which may do. Competency is equal to the occasion, readiness prompt for the occasion. Faculty is an inherent quality of mind or body; talent, some special mental ability. Dexterity and skill are readiness and facility in action, having a special end; talent is innate, dexterity and skill are largely acquired. Our abilities include our natural capacity, faculties, and talents, with all the dexterity, skill, and readiness that can be acquired. Efficacy is the power to produce an intended effect as shown in the production of it; as, the efficacy of a drug. Efficiency is effectual agency, competent power; efficiency is applied in mechanics as denoting the ratio of the effect produced to the power expended in producing it; but this word is chiefly used of intelligent agents as denoting the quality that brings all one’s power to bear promptly and to the best purpose on the thing to be done. Compare ADDRESS; DEXTERITY; SKILFUL.

   Synonyms:
   aptitude, capability, capacity, cleverness, cogency, competency, dexterity, efficacy, efficiency, energy, expertness, faculty, force, might, power, qualification, readiness, skill, strength, susceptibility, talent

   Antonyms:
   awkwardness, dulness, feebleness, helplessness, imbecility, impotence, inability, inaptitude, incapacity, incompetence, inefficiency, maladroitness, stupidity, unskilfulness, weakness

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. ability

   Synonyms:
   power, cleverness, faculty, skill, capacity, talent, expertness, aptitude, dexterity, efficiency, competency, qualification

   Antonyms:
   weakness, incapacity, imbecility, inability, unreadiness, maladroitness

Princeton’s WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. abilitynoun

   the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

   Synonyms:
   power

   Antonyms:
   inability, unfitness

2. ability, powernoun

   possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done

   «danger heightened his powers of discrimination»

   Synonyms:
   power, ability, exponent, index, major power, great power, might, tycoon, force, magnate, top executive, world power, business leader, powerfulness, mightiness, baron, big businessman, superpower, mogul, office, king

   Antonyms:
   inability, unfitness

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. abilitynoun

   Synonyms:
   power (to execute any thing), ableness, force, potency, might, efficiency, efficacy, strength, energy, skill, skilfulness, dexterity, address, cleverness, ingenuity, talent, aptitude, aptness, knack, expertness, facility, quickness, readiness

2. abilitynoun

   Synonyms:
   qualification, competency, sufficiency

3. abilitynoun

   Synonyms:
   CAPACITY, capability, capableness, faculty, gift, parts, genius, endowment, calibre, forte, turn

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for «ability»:

   capacity, capability, capacities, capabilities, fitness, possibility, aptitude, skill, abilities, faculty, proficiency, capable, skills, competence, suitability, opportunity, able, potential, capacity-, power, competency

Suggested Resources

1. Ability

   Ability vs. Capability — In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Ability and Capability.

How to pronounce ABILITY?

How to say ABILITY in sign language?

How to use ABILITY in a sentence?

1. Khaled Khoja:

   We have the capability and the ability to fight against the terrorism and against the terror led by the Syrian regime, but we need to include much more fighters from the FSA (Free Syrian Army) in this program and we need to have it much more faster.

2. Tina Kaidanow:

   We have been very, very focused, especially in this administration and in tandem with Congress, on trying to give our partners — our strategic partners overseas — the ability to avoid civilian casualties especially, where we can.

3. Ken Padowitz:

   If a prosecutor doesn’t have the ability and the opportunity to do the right thing, then he shouldn’t be doing this job.

4. Austin Police Department:

   The lack of cadet classes at APD over the last couple of years has contributed to an officer staffing shortage, in order to prioritize the Department’s ability to respond to 911 phone calls and keep the community safe, APD has had to reallocate some personnel from our support units back to patrol. The Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (SOAR) is one of the units affected by these staffing challenges and lost 3 officers who were re-assigned to patrol in the process. These officers’ duties and tasks while assigned to SOAR were to perform sex offender compliance checks, and to track down and arrest those with outstanding warrants. With the absence of these officers in the SOAR unit to assist with these tasks, the unit has limited capacity to perform these functions. There are currently 1 sergeant, 3 detectives, 1 full time civilian, and 2 part time civilians who now work in this unit.

5. Nicola Thorp:

   Employers are allowed to impose different dress codes for men and women, which is fair enough as long as that dress code doesn’t favour one of the sexes, by making women wear high heels you are acting favourably towards men because their footwear doesn’t affect their posture, their ability to move. It doesn’t create long term health problems.

• قدرة, إستطاعة, مقدرة, القدرةArabic
• здо́льнасцьBelarusian
• вещина, кадърност, ловкостBulgarian
• schopnostCzech
• galluWelsh
• evneDanish
• FähigkeitGerman
• ικανότηταGreek
• capacidad, habilidadSpanish
• gaitasun, trebetasun, abileziaBasque
• kykyFinnish
• capacité, pouvoirFrench
• cumas, ábaltachtIrish
• jargaghtManx
• יכולתHebrew
• योग्यत्व, योग्यताHindi
• abiliteHaitian Creole
• abilità, capacitàItalian
• 才能, 能力Japanese
• 능력Korean
• ده‌ره‌قه‌ت, له‌ده‌س هاتنKurdish
• gallosCornish
• мүмкүнчүлүкKyrgyz
• sollers acumen, ars, habilitas, calliditas, potentia, solertia, prudentia, potestas, scientiaLatin
• gebėjimasLithuanian
• kaha, āheitanga, āheingaMāori
• способностMacedonian
• kebolehan, کبوليهنMalay
• abilitàMaltese
• vermogen, vaardigheidDutch
• evneNorwegian
• zdolnośćPolish
• perícia, destreza, habilidade, capacidade, mestriaPortuguese
• abilitate, putință, iscusință, dibăcie, capacitate, îndemânareRomanian
• умение, способность, возможностьRussian
• спосо́бно̄ст, sposóbnōstSerbo-Croatian
• zmožnostSlovene
• färdighet, förmågaSwedish
• uwezoSwahili
• திறன்Tamil
• సత్తా, దక్షతTelugu
• kabiliyetTurkish
• صلاحیت, یوگیتا, یوگیتوUrdu
• năng lực, 能力Vietnamese
• fäg, skilVolapük
• 能力Chinese

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