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 of drawback

Noun

• disadvantage
• handicap

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 the highly competitive pricing figures to be worth the wait for current VR headset users and folks who've been intrigued by the Vision Pro but have held off due to the aforementioned drawbacks. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

And the debate over the benefits and drawbacks of remote work continues. — Sebastian Fixson, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026

Verb

Lux is drawn back to the old pictures and voice notes on his phone, while Mille stares at the WhatsApp chat with her sister as if waiting for a response. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Nearby in Biloxi, Garrett Lipar, executive chef-partner at The Dixboro Project, returns to Mary Mahoney’s Old French House every spring with his family, drawn back by classic Gulf seafood and the kind of hospitality that’s increasingly hard to find. — Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026

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
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

drawback

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 

: an undesirable feature : disadvantage entry 1