drawback

1 of 2

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak How to pronounce drawback (audio)
1
: a refund of duties especially on an imported product subsequently exported or used to produce a product for export
2
: an objectionable feature : disadvantage
The plan's only drawback is its cost.

draw back

2 of 2

verb

drew back; drawn back; drawing back; draws back

intransitive verb

: to avoid an issue or commitment

Examples of drawback in a Sentence

Noun The trip sounds great, but cost is a major drawback. this plan has only one drawback: it's unworkable
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The drawback is its livability score, which is just 63. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2023 However, read receipts also have some drawbacks, such as privacy issues, social pressure, and battery drain. Kurt Knutsson, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2023 While Citi Custom Cash’s 5% rewards rate is enticing, the low $500 spending cap is a big drawback. Ian Salisbury, wsj.com, 18 Nov. 2023 Those types of rate-setting arrangements — as when local governments determine payments, or when payouts are pegged to some percentage of what Medicare already pays — each have benefits and drawbacks. Bob Herman and Tara Bannow, STAT, 9 Nov. 2023 However, more than two-thirds of parents in the National Parents Union survey of 1,515 respondents see the benefits of AI in schools as outweighing or equal to the drawbacks. Massimo Marioni, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2023 There was just one drawback: Target manufactured Lewis to go viral, encouraging people to share images of him via press release. WIRED, 20 Oct. 2023 The only drawback is these are only available in a gold finish, so if that metallic color isn’t your style, these won’t work for your aesthetic. Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2023 Allen also noted a drawback of training schools: no one wants to poop with an audience. Francyne Zeltser, Parents, 29 Oct. 2023
Verb
Still, the former president could soon be drawn back into the headlines. Libby Cathey, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023 Similarly, Aoki Lee Simmons’ slicked back wash-and-go curls were at shoulder length, and drawn back into a bun by the end of the night. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 23 Oct. 2023 The bow and arrow was drawn back for a LONG time but that thang is in the air now!! Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 22 Oct. 2023 Caine said after the COVID-19 pandemic, he was drawn back to the silver screen by the story of The Great Escaper’s main character Bernard Jordan, a World War II veteran who escapes from his care home to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023 The clincher will be if, after flocking to a few U.S. blockbusters this summer, Italians will now be drawn back into cinemas by the cream of the local crop. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 4 Sep. 2023 During the procedure, an Alexis wound retractor (AWR), a device used to draw back the edges of a wound during surgery, was left in her abdomen. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023 The woman complained of severe chronic pain for months after the birth of her child, and doctors eventually discovered that an Alexis wound retractor — a round, soft tubular device used to draw back the edges of a wound during surgery — had been accidentally left inside her during the operation. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2023 Duncan was born in Portland and described leaving it seven times in younger years, each departure an attempt to live closer to nature, only to be drawn back to the city for financial survival. John Williams, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1572, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drawback was in 1572

Dictionary Entries Near drawback

Cite this Entry

“Drawback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drawback. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

drawback

noun
draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak How to pronounce drawback (audio)
: an undesirable feature : disadvantage entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster on drawback

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!