impair
verb
\
Definition of impair
: 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
Keep scrolling for more
Other words from impair
\
noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for impair
Synonyms
blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cripple, cross (up), damage, deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate
Antonyms
doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of impair in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Zalewski said the driver was not impaired and the incident had nothing to do with construction. — Karen Pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Driver, toddler escaped from car stuck on railroad tracks in Wauwatosa minutes before train crash," 28 June 2018 Police initially determined that Vasquez was not impaired after giving her a field test. — NBC News, "Backup driver in deadly autonomous crash was streaming TV show, police report says," 23 June 2018 In those cases, officers — who must have probable case to make the stop — determine whether riders are impaired. Scooter riders and bicyclists also aren’t at risk of losing their license. — Lyndsay Winkley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scootering while intoxicated. Yes, it's a thing and it's illegal," 17 June 2018 The other facts the NTSB is looking at to determine the cause of the crash in addition to how the system operated include how the vehicle operator handled the crash and whether the vehicle operator was impaired. — Johana Bhuiyan, Recode, "Uber’s semi-autonomous car detected the pedestrian six seconds before the fatal crash, a federal agency says," 24 May 2018 It was subsequently found that the man was impaired. — Jeff Piorkowski/special To Cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Man arrested after knives, methamphetamine found in his car: Solon police blotter," 11 May 2018 Police said Huizenga was impaired while trying to dock at the wrong house on a Fort Lauderdale canal. — Juan Ortega, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Huizenga's son arrested, accused of drunken boating," 4 May 2018 Behan declined to say whether her client was impaired at the time of her arrest. — Fox News, "Arizona woman disputes her arrest was made on wedding day," 16 Mar. 2018 It is not known whether the man was impaired or intoxicated at the time of the crash. — Samantha Ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Man critically injured in motorcycle crash near Baytown," 12 July 2018These 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.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for impair
impairment
nounFinancial Definition of impairment
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
verb
\
Kids Definition of impair
: to make less (as in quantity, value, or strength) or worse : damage Smoking can impair your health.
impair
transitive verb
\
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
Other words from impair
\
noun
Keep scrolling for more
impair
transitive verb
\
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 a law impairing a state's own obligations was entitled to less deference —Gerald Gunther
— see also contract clauseKeep scrolling for more
Comments on impair
What made you want to look up impair? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Name that Food Quiz
-
- Name these cookies!
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share impair
Resources for impair