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.
drew back; drawn back; drawing back; draws back
: to avoid an issue or commitment
Synonyms
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
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
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
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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
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.
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Kids Definition
drawback
noun
draw·back
ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 
: an undesirable feature : disadvantage entry 1
More from Merriam-Webster on drawback
Nglish: Translation of drawback for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of drawback for Arabic Speakers
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