: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: such as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
Brennan supports the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation, swelling, pain and impaired joint movement.—
Stan Bergstein
Stan BergsteinFinding jobs can be difficult for visually impaired adults. About 70 percent of them are unemployed, the National Federation of the Blind says.—Eric Aasen
Eric Aasen… some GERD patients have impaired gut motility, meaning that their stomachs empty too slowly.—Andrew Weil
Andrew Weil
b
: unable to function normally or safely (as when operating a motor vehicle) because of intoxication by alcohol or drugs
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is the safety advertisement that restaurants and bars will use to remind patrons of the dangers of driving impaired.—Mati Spencer
Mati SpencerExamples of impaired in a Sentence
driving while impaired is against the law
special devices for sight-impaired visitors
Recent Examples on the Web
An impaired sense of smell is more strongly predictive of all-cause mortality than heart disease.
—Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
In a stream alongside the old mining property, high levels of zinc and manganese have been detected for years, resulting in the water body, known as Stream C, being placed on the state’s impaired waters list.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Although the overall view from Earth degrades as the object approaches perihelion, some telescopes will be less visually impaired.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 16 July 2025
Some people who’ve suffered through COVID-19 never quite feel 100 percent, stuck in the throes of a medical mystery centered around an impaired immune system.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for impaired
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Tad Friend, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
In a stream alongside the old mining property, high levels of zinc and manganese have been detected for years, resulting in the water body, known as Stream C, being placed on the state’s impaired waters list.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Although the overall view from Earth degrades as the object approaches perihelion, some telescopes will be less visually impaired.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 16 July 2025
Some people who’ve suffered through COVID-19 never quite feel 100 percent, stuck in the throes of a medical mystery centered around an impaired immune system.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for impaired
Cite this Entry
“Impaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impaired. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impaired
adjective
im·paired
-ˈpa(ə)rd 
-ˈpe(ə)rd
: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: such as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
impaired heart action
b
: intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
driving while impaired
Medical Definition
impaired
adjective
: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
Brennan supports the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation, swelling, pain and impaired movement.—Stan Bergstein
Stan BergsteinFinding jobs can be difficult for visually impaired adults.—Eric Aasen
Eric Aasen
b
: unable to function normally or safely (as when operating a motor vehicle) because of intoxication by alcohol or drugs
driving while impaired
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