impair

verb

im·​pair im-ˈper How to pronounce impair (audio)
impaired; impairing; impairs

transitive verb

: to diminish in function, ability, or quality : to weaken or make worse
It has been known for nearly 100 years that memory is impaired by bilateral damage to either of two brain regions …Larry R. Squire
The use of drugs further complicates the situation of these families and sometimes impairs their ability to raise children.Ellen L. Bassuk
… the prospect of generating normal profitability is impaired by excessive debt service.John Nozell
The physician also checks for signs of endometriosis, a condition in which the cells that normally compose the uterine lining grow outside the uterus, sometimes impairing fertility.Martha Southgate
impairer noun
… the overwhelming majority of hookups involved alcohol use—an impairer of sexual judgment if ever there was one … Tiffany Sharples
Choose the Right Synonym for impair

injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar mean to affect injuriously.

injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

Examples of impair in a Sentence

Smoking can impair your health. Drinking impairs a person's ability to think clearly. His memory was so impaired by age that he often forgot where he was.
Recent Examples on the Web That officer told investigators Montalvo refused to do a Standardized Field Sobriety Test and to provide a sample of his breath, which are used to help determine if a driver is impaired. Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 McConnell was not impaired cognitively, but did have some additional physical limitations. Michael Tackett, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 In people with primary progressive aphasia, Williams’ diagnosis, language skills become increasingly impaired over time. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 In his opening, Lewis did not raise another prosecution theory, that Gutierrez Reed was hungover or otherwise impaired on set. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024 Separately, one study that followed up with participants after a flu infection found that in about 30 percent of people, the immune system remained somewhat impaired two months later. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2024 Law enforcement was investigating whether the driver was impaired. Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Gutierrez’s team has disputed that Gutierrez was impaired or that the bag contained drugs, which gave rise to the evidence tampering charge. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024 This can impair your ability to think and process emotions, disrupt sleep patterns, prompt impulsive behaviors, intensify stress and lead to health problems. Mark Travers, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English empeiren, from Anglo-French empeirer, from Vulgar Latin *impejorare, from Latin in- + Late Latin pejorare to make worse — more at pejorative

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impair was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near impair

Cite this Entry

“Impair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impair. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

impair

verb
im·​pair im-ˈpa(ə)r How to pronounce impair (audio)
-ˈpe(ə)r
: to damage or make worse by or as if by making smaller, less, or weaker
smoking can impair one's health
impairment noun

Medical Definition

impair

transitive verb
: to diminish in function, ability, or quality : to weaken or make worse
It has been known for nearly 100 years that memory is impaired by bilateral damage to either of two brain regions …Larry R. Squire
The physician also checks for signs of endometriosis, a condition in which the cells that normally compose the uterine lining grow outside the uterus, sometimes impairing fertility.Martha Southgate
impairment noun

Legal Definition

impair

transitive verb
im·​pair im-ˈper How to pronounce impair (audio)
1
: to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing
impaired health
2
: to diminish the value of (property or property rights)
specifically : to diminish the value of (legal contractual obligations) to the point that a party loses the benefit of the contract or the contract otherwise becomes invalid
a law impairing a state's own obligations was entitled to less deference Gerald Gunther
see also contract clause
impairment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impair

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