1
as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success
her natural shyness was not a handicap when she played chess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
her uncomfortable shoes became a handicap on the walking tour of the city, as she often had to sit and rest her sore feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to hamper
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the baseball player's small size did not handicap him in the least
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of handicap
Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
The parking area is handicap accessible, as well as the free tram service from the lot to the festival grounds.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2025
Depth was thin by the end of the season, and the group’s performance handicapped what could have been a stellar season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Noun
The cars' real handicaps were a lack of liquid cooling for the battery packs.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
The parking area is handicap accessible, as well as the free tram service from the lot to the festival grounds.
—Chris Sims, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Its read and write speeds can be handicapped by your computer hardware.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2025
Depth was thin by the end of the season, and the group’s performance handicapped what could have been a stellar season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handicap
Noun
-
Are there any disadvantages to redshirting?—
Erick Trevino,
AZCentral.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Across the country, girls and women are once again being asked to overcome structural disadvantages that Title IX was designed to eliminate.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over the next 12 months, HMS will gain access to mentorship, commercial opportunities, business and legal advisory, digital tools, and physical resources such as co-working spaces and wet labs, support designed to help early-stage companies overcome common obstacles that startups face.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The permit problem According to Saltzer, capture is lagging because, despite available storage and existing pipelines, permitting new CO2 infrastructure remains a major obstacle.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Education experts are raising awareness about an opportunity gap existing in schools and are worried that school equity may be hampered by the next state budget.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The removal of Helena-West Helena's mayor in July has hampered efforts to repair the city's aging water infrastructure, according to local officials.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The additional hurdle for H-1B visas—a category for high-skilled workers that many tech companies rely upon—could undermine America’s ability to attract top tech talent, Bansal explained.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Of course, there’s still a final hurdle for Cootes to leap over in the final week of the preseason.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Officials from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office also arrested Marlana Strausbaugh and William Strausbaugh, who now both face charges of hindering prosecution or apprehension and complicity in aiding escape.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Salmo now faces a slate of charges, including second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, riot, and obstructing and hindering a police officer.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The virus’s spread is often accelerated by living conditions and other socioeconomic factors on Native lands, such as overcrowded housing, limited access to health care and clean water, environmental hazards and barriers to transportation.—
Suzette Brewer,
Scientific American,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Both deaths occurred in Guangfu Township, Hualien County, which was inundated with heavy rain and flooding after a barrier lake burst its banks.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Prosecutors say Comey lied about authorizing an FBI source to speak to the media about the investigation and obstructed Congress by making false statements intended to impede lawmakers’ probe into the FBI’s actions, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by The Washington Post.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Another lottery pick, Leo Carlsson, twice impeded Utah’s progress up the ice.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
He has been charged with armed kidnapping, willful injury, domestic abuse assault with the intent to inflict serious injuries and obstruction of emergency communications, according to public court records.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Bondi’s appearance on Fox News comes days after Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on two of three counts sought by prosecutors, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, according to documents.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handicap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicap. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share