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View synonyms for impair

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

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • impairment noun
  • impairer noun
  • impairable adjective
  • nonimpairment noun
  • preimpairment noun
  • self-impairable adjective
  • self-impairing adjective
  • unimpairable adjective
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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. )
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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
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Synonym Study

See injure.
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"For hard of hearing people, phone banking is challenging, and for visually impaired people, online banking can be really difficult," Miss Kinsella added.

Read more on BBC

The cafeteria diet alone did not greatly impair spatial learning or recognition memory, but exercise slightly improved navigation skills.

Read more on Science Daily

And they argue this “modest, modern” limit make sense because well-armed drug addicts “present unique dangers to society — especially because they pose a grave risk of armed, hostile encounters with police officers while impaired.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Critics may argue that even a modest annuity impairs flexibility by tying up some people’s money in an insurance product.

Prosecutors also made the case that Button's level of mental illness did not substantially impair her judgement and rationality.

Read more on BBC

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