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
The Aries moon pokes holes in old insecurities about competence and productivity.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
For decades, small-screen video game adaptations have struggled to clear even the lowest bar of competence.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
These are the mistakes that build a personal and lasting vision, far beyond technical competence alone.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025
Bureaucracy has lost its competence and diplomacy its discipline.
—Ekrem Imamoglu, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competence
Noun
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He was asked to be the signal-caller, and that responsibility seemed to hinder his ability to read and react.—
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The designer, who holds certifications in accessible design, says the triangle’s goal of removing obstructions resonates with today’s emphasis on safe accessibility for kitchen users of all ages and abilities.—
Noun
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Their 14,700-capacity stadium has plenty of old-school charm but badly needs modernisation.—
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The system’s ability to seamlessly coordinate with these diverse assets demonstrated its capacity for intelligent, integrated mission solutioning, according to a press release.—
Noun
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Four major data centers are coming to southern Michigan as major companies are ramping up their artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other digital capabilities.—
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This demands extremely fast detection, early warning, and emergency response – key capabilities for modern military and civil defense forces.—
Noun
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Judge Geoffrey Howard set the competency trial for Mullen after the defense declared doubt in his ability to understand the charges and the legal proceedings.—
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The Commonwealth has experts that will soon start an examination of Clancy for competency to stand.—
Cite this Entry
“Competence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competence. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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