impaired
Americanadjective
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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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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.
At this point in the investigation, there is no sign the bus operator was impaired or distracted, police said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
Public Bank could stand out among peers given its ROE above 12% and gross impaired loan ratio of around 0.5%, particularly amid uncertainties due to prolonged Middle East tensions and elevated oil prices.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
No longer will his clean ball-striking be impaired by nebulous thinking.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
When mutations disrupt this channel, pH regulation is impaired.
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026
On examination, they were found to have an opaque white film covering the eye, indicating that vision had been impaired or destroyed.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
