impair

verb im·pair \ im-ˈper \

Updated on: 13 Oct 2017

Definition of 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 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

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impairer

noun

- … the overwhelming majority of hookups involved alcohol use—an impairer of sexual judgment if ever there was one …
- —Tiffany Sharples

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impairment

play \im-ˈper-mənt\ noun

- Persons with hearing impairments can now get information about local parks and their facilities by calling the recently installed TDD phone numbers within the Parks Department.
- —Maryland Magazine

See impair defined for English-language learners

See impair defined for kids

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 of impair from the Web

Officers suspected he was impaired by drugs and placed him in handcuffs, but the man struggled and refused to enter a squad car.

— star-telegram, "Wisconsin police officer with stun gun sets naked man on fire," 18 July 2017
Climate change is costly in part because its effects are uncertain, impairing investments and other actions which might mitigate its harms.

— The Economist, "Free exchangeClimate change and inequality," 13 July 2017
According to police reports, officers stopped Wilson for speeding near Milwaukee Avenue and Route 45 and later determined he was impaired.

— pioneer press, chicagotribune.com, "Vernon Hills police: Man charged with DUI had fake ID," 7 July 2017
The panel identified bed-sharing, or co-sleeping, as a concern, especially when an adult might be impaired by drugs, alcohol, prescription medication or just sheer exhaustion.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky drug epidemic's smallest victims: Babies dying in their sleep," 6 July 2017
Bond, who was not injured, was found not to be impaired nor distracted and will not be charged, according to Ofc.

— aegis staff report, The Aegis, "Aberdeen 16-year-old trapped under vehicle that crashed into his house," 6 July 2017
Backhaus was arrested and taken to the Sheriff's Office Southern Precinct, where he was charged with driving under the influence of and while impaired by alcohol and failing to stop vehicle at the scene of an accident involving bodily injury.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Rosedale man charged with drinking, driving following Joppatowne crash," 27 June 2017
Agencies were initially reluctant to endorse the conclusion that Putin wanted to impair Clinton’s campaign, and support Trump.

— isobel thompson, The Hive, "How Obama Was Blindsided by the “Crime of the Century”," 23 June 2017
And none of Trump’s cabinet appointments impair his credibility when punching down.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Populist President Says He’d Rather Get Economic Advice From Wall Street Than ‘a Poor Person’," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of impair

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

impair Synonyms

Synonyms

blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cripple, cross (up), deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, damage, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate

Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp

Related Words

deteriorate, enervate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken; erode, scour, wash out, wear (away); blight, tarnish; dent, ding, dint; botch, gum (up), queer; lacerate, wound; disable, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, torment, torture; annihilate, bang up, bash, batter, clobber, crush, dash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, scourge, shatter, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wreck

Near Antonyms

cure, heal, help, rectify, rehabilitate, remedy; edit, remodel, revise; ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Synonym Discussion of 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

Financial Definition of IMPAIR

impairment

noun

What It Is

The term impairment refers to assets that are no longer of the same value as in a prior period. An impairment charge is used and the asset is revalued downward and a "charge" is made to net assets.

How It Works

Impairment normally happens when the value of a company's goodwill declines in market value. Since the advent of FAS (Financial Accounting Standards) 141 and 142, the amortization of goodwill is no longer required, however periodic and annual impairment tests are now necessary. This can work both ways. The goodwill (asset) will stay on the books of the company indefinitely which helps EPS but if there is a market downturn on these assets, a write-down of the value of the asset (impairment charge) will be required which has immediate impact on the income of the company.

For example;

Goodwill Asset Value (Year 0) $4,000,000

Impairment Test Results Value (Year 1) $3,000,000

Income Statement Impact/ Impairment Charge $1,000,000

Why It Matters

Under US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), tests of impairment are required annually. Thus, an internal control procedure must be established within companies that potentially have such exposure to ensure they are abiding by US GAAP. Failure to do so risks a qualified or adverse opinion from the companies’ auditors.

Source: Investing Answers

IMPAIR Defined for Kids

impair

verb im·pair \ im-ˈper \

Definition of impair for Students

impaired; impairing

:to make less (as in quantity, value, or strength) or worse :damage Smoking can impair your health.

Medical Dictionary

impair

transitive verb im·pair \ im-ˈpa(ə)r, -ˈpe(ə)r \

medical Definition of impair

:to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing in some material respect

his health was impaired by overwork

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impairment

play \-ˈpa(ə)r-mənt\ noun

Law Dictionary

impair

transitive verb im·pair \ im-ˈper \

legal Definition of impair

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