impair

1
[ im-pair ]
See synonyms for: impairimpairedimpairment on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to make or cause to become worse; diminish in ability, value, excellence, etc.; weaken or damage: to impair one's health;to impair negotiations.

verb (used without object)
  1. to grow or become worse; lessen.

noun
  1. Archaic. impairment.

Origin of impair

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English empairen, empeiren “to make worse,” from Middle French empeirer, from em- im-1 + peirer “to make worse” (from Late Latin pējōrāre, verb derivative of Latin pējor “worse”; cf. pejoration)

synonym study For impair

1. See injure.

Opposites for impair

Other words from impair

  • im·pair·a·ble, adjective
  • im·pair·er, noun
  • im·pair·ment, noun
  • non·im·pair·ment, noun
  • pre·im·pair·ment, noun
  • self-im·pair·a·ble, adjective
  • self-im·pair·ing, adjective
  • un·im·pair·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for impair (2 of 2)

impair2
[ an-per ]

adjectiveFrench.
  1. noting any odd number, especially in roulette.: Compare pair.

Origin of impair

2
First recorded in 1820–30; from French: literally, “odd,” from Latin impār “odd, unequal”; equivalent to im-2 + pair2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use impair in a sentence

  • Either would be very disruptive, severely impairing global economic development and regional security in the Asia-Pacific region.

  • But this goldsmith's work, far from impairing the effect of the whole, adds a certain fascination to it.

    Bastien Lepage | Fr. Crastre
  • The strictest accuracy has thus been secured without impairing the interest of the story.

  • He recalled all the petty strain and stress of trifling tragedies which had been steadily impairing his mental serenity.

    Katharine Frensham | Beatrice Harraden
  • He seemed to her to have a rather remarkable faculty for slightly impairing the value of everything of which he wrote or spoke.

    Gray youth | Oliver Onions
  • Depressing thoughts interfere with the cerebral circulation, impairing the nutrition of the cells and nerve centers.

    Nuggets of the New Thought | William Walker Atkinson,

British Dictionary definitions for impair

impair

/ (ɪmˈpɛə) /


verb
  1. (tr) to reduce or weaken in strength, quality, etc: his hearing was impaired by an accident

Origin of impair

1
C14: from Old French empeirer to make worse, from Late Latin pējorāre, from Latin pejor worse; see pejorative

Derived forms of impair

  • impairable, adjective
  • impairer, noun
  • impairment, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012