The best replacement for ability is capability.

The best alternatives to ability are rated as following:
★★★★★  capability
★★★  skill
★★  aptitude
★★  capacity
★★  achievement
★★  abilities
★★  effort
★★  disability
★  motivation
★  capability difference
★  talent
★  hability
  availability
  ability
  willingness
  competency
  ibility
  attitude
  age
  potential to learn a certain skill
  possibility
  skills
  gender

Your alternative for ability is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about ability, one probably shouldn't forget about opportunity.

Other search terms related to ability and their ratings are:
★★★★★ opportunity
★★★★ honor
★★★★ opportunity is nothing
★★★★ ambition
★ knowledge
ditto
You have in mind a companion for ability and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of ability in all years. Click on graph for more.
ability
capability
skill