inoperable

I1N1O1P3E1R1A1B3L1E1

adjective

Incapable of being successfully operated on.

Similar
incurableunserviceable
Opposite
operable
OriginEnglish operable ← Latin operābilis ← Middle English in- →
Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

adjectiveinoperable (not comparable)
  1. not comparablemedicineIncapable of being successfully operated on.

    Synonyms: incurable · Antonyms: operable

  2. not comparableIncapable of operation or function; inoperative.

    MPower Kernow will clear and repair the currently inoperable turntable - allowing steam locomotives to be turned in Cornwall again and opening up the potential for new charter operations.

    2021 August 11, Ben Jones, “Network News: Main line steam servicing facility for Cornwall”, in RAIL, number 937, page 27, photo caption

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveIncapable of being successfully operated on.

Similar
incurable
Opposite
operable

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivenot able to perform its normal function

Similar
unserviceable

adjectivenot suitable for surgery

Opposite
operable
Also see
unserviceableunworkable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥-
  4. Latinin-
  5. Middle Englishin-
  6. Englishin-
  7. Latinoperābilis
  8. Englishoperable
  9. Englishinoperable

From in- + operable.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan inoperable
  • inoperablesurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Dutch inoperabel, niet te opereren
  • inoperabelsurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
  • niet te opererensurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Esperanto nefunkcianta, nefunkciantaj
  • nefunkciantaincapable of function
  • nefunkciantajincapable of function
Finnish leikkauskelvoton, toimintakyvytön
  • leikkauskelvotonsurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
  • toimintakyvytönincapable of function
French inopérable, inopérant
  • inopérablesurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
  • inopérantincapable of function
German nicht operierbar
  • nicht operierbarsurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Greek μη χειρουργήσιμος, ανεγχείρητος
  • μη χειρουργήσιμος (mi cheirourgísimos)surgery: incapable of being successfully operated
  • ανεγχείρητος (anencheíritos)incapable of function
Italian inoperabile
  • inoperabilesurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Latin inoperābilis
  • inoperābilissurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Polish nieoperacyjny, niesprawny
  • nieoperacyjnysurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
  • niesprawnyincapable of function
Portuguese inoperável
  • inoperávelsurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Romanian inoperabil, neoperabil
  • inoperabilsurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
  • neoperabilincapable of function
Russian неопера́бельный
  • неопера́бельный (neoperábelʹnyj)surgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Spanish inoperable
  • inoperablesurgery: incapable of being successfully operated
Cite this entry
APA

inoperable. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inoperable

MLA

“inoperable.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inoperable. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inoperable,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inoperable.

Source: inoperable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.