impair

¹

[im-pair]

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.

   Antonyms: repair

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or become worse; lessen.

noun

1. Archaic.,  impairment.

impair

²

[an-per]

adjective

French.

1. noting any odd number, especially in roulette.

impair

/ ɪmˈpɛə /

verb

1. (tr) to reduce or weaken in strength, quality, etc

   his hearing was impaired by an accident

Other Word Forms

• impairable adjective
• impairer noun
• impairment noun
• nonimpairment noun
• preimpairment noun
• self-impairable adjective
• self-impairing adjective
• unimpairable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impair¹

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”; pejoration )

Origin of impair²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of impair¹

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

Synonym Study

See injure.

Example Sentences

A 2021 meta-analysis of the impact of videogames found that some games have educational benefits, but heavy gaming can also “lead to addiction and impair ability to focus on effortful goal oriented behavior.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Are those vehicles able to drive overnight and in weather conditions that impair visibility?

Read more on Wall Street Journal

This has been an impaired therapeutic category for years, but is starting to turn.

Read more on Barron's

But this couldn’t be chalked up to an impaired or distracted driver.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It described an autistic child as one who, by the age of 2½, showed impaired communication, unusual responses to their environment and a lack of interest in other people.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blunt 
• damage 
• debilitate 
• decrease 
• destroy 
• diminish 
• hurt 
• lessen 
• mar 
• prejudice 
• reduce 
• spoil 
• tarnish 
• undermine 
• weaken 
• worsen