impaired
Americanadjective
-
weakened, diminished, or damaged.
to rebuild an impaired bridge.
-
functioning poorly or inadequately.
Consumption of alcohol results in an impaired driver.
-
deficient or incompetent (usually preceded by an adverb or noun).
morally impaired; sports-impaired.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of impaired
Explanation
When something is impaired, it's diminished or damaged. Someone who can't see very well has impaired sight. When something is broken and isn't working at 100%, it's impaired. People with impaired hearing are deaf, and people who are physically impaired have to use crutches or wheelchairs. Everyone who wears glasses or contact lenses has impaired vision. If you break your ankle, your ability to walk is impaired. And if something caused you to make a bad decision, you could say your judgment was impaired.
Vocabulary lists containing impaired
Hatchet
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Chapter 16: Toward Civil War
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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.
Performance was impaired when checked 15 minutes, four hours, eight hours and 24 hours later.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
If the Strait of Hormuz remains impaired and China continues restricting phosphate exports, nitrogen producers with secure, low-cost inputs should remain better positioned than phosphate producers dependent on imported sulfur.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
According to the Palo Alto police department, the other driver was uninjured, neither driver was impaired and no one was cited.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
The court heard that Zambada suffered from several health conditions and would need treatment in custody, with Judge Cogan describing him as "drifting towards cognitively impaired."
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
The Warden found a job teaching at a public school and worked a second job helping mentally impaired adults.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
