drawback

1 of 2

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 

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

drȯ-ˈbak 

drew back; drawn back; drawing back; draws back

intransitive verb

: to avoid an issue or commitment

Synonyms

Noun

• debit
• disadvantage
• disbenefit
• downside
• handicap
• incommodity
• liability
• minus
• negative
• strike

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

But by the late 2010s, some drawbacks of open-plan designs—such as noise, lack of privacy, and distractions—led to a gradual decline in their popularity, with some homeowners and companies reconsidering more segmented spaces. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025

The Advantages of Running Clubs As Ways To Meet People Running clubs don’t have some of these traditional dating app drawbacks. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Verb

Back tension: This clever release mechanism features a hinge that rotates freely as the bowstring is drawn back. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025

With Ekholm out of commission, both Ty Emberson and John Klingberg drew back into the lineup to play right defence. —Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1572, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for drawback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

drawback

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 

: an undesirable feature : disadvantage entry 1