: 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 SpencerSynonyms of impaired
Examples of impaired in a Sentence
driving while impaired is against the law
special devices for sight-impaired visitors
Recent Examples on the Web
There was also an accumulation of p62, a marker protein that accumulates when autophagy is impaired.
—New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2025
Dementia is a group of conditions involving memory loss and impaired thinking and problem-solving skills that impair the person's daily life.
—Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Forty-five years ago, Mothers Against Drunk Driving had its first national press conference, and a global movement to stop impaired driving was born.
—Erin Nicholson, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
Yet, in a game in the biggest league in the world, the decision was left to be made by a man with an impaired view of the incident.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impaired
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New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2025
Dementia is a group of conditions involving memory loss and impaired thinking and problem-solving skills that impair the person's daily life.
—Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Forty-five years ago, Mothers Against Drunk Driving had its first national press conference, and a global movement to stop impaired driving was born.
—Erin Nicholson, Twin Cities, 6 Nov. 2025
Yet, in a game in the biggest league in the world, the decision was left to be made by a man with an impaired view of the incident.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 Nov. 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 12 Nov. 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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