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impairing

  • present participle
    of impair.
    impair
    verb (used with object)
    to make or cause to become worse; diminish in ability, value, excellence, etc.; weaken or damage.

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.

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As hard as it might be to imagine, so-called “panic scams” can work by triggering stress responses that shift victims into fight-or-flight, impairing rational thought, according to cybersecurity experts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

In implementing the law, the government further defined "harm" to include "significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering."

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Cedars-Sinai spokesperson Duke Helfand said the hospital would be unable to recruit and retain physicians, nurses, and specialists if the measure passed, dramatically impairing its ability to provide healthcare.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

“In particular, how effective drones are in impairing production and transportation of crude via the Strait of Hormuz.”

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 28, 2026

This is because the act of describing a face has the effect of impairing your otherwise effortless ability to subsequently recognize that face.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell