disadvantage

noun

ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tij How to pronounce disadvantage (audio)
Definition of disadvantagenext
1
as in handicap
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success their lack of height was a disadvantage on the basketball court

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in expense
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success intense pretrial publicity worked to our disadvantage

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 disadvantage Similarly, although benefits of smaller class sizes are real, at least for economically disadvantaged kids in early grades, uniform caps put high-poverty schools at a competitive disadvantage (because other working conditions are more difficult). — David Griffith, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Black and Latino communities, women aging with HIV, transgender people, and others facing structural disadvantage are disproportionately represented among those who rely on public benefits and safety net services. — Jeff Berry, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026 Behind a slew of Burton buckets, the Valkyries were able to slim the disadvantage to 54-41 by the end of the third quarter. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 The Cryptographic Context Injection is only the latest example of the disadvantage LLM defenders operate under. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disadvantage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disadvantage
  1. handicap
  2. expense
  3. drawback
  4. despite
  5. liability
  6. loss
Noun
  • Weiss runs a country club where golf clubs become horsepower, fairways give way to a racetrack and the handicap system is measured in lap time.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Tragically, Alice’s shower trauma turns out to be a big handicap for her in her pursuit of Catherine’s trust.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of handicap
Noun
  • The ratios offer a little more room for expenses by putting a little less toward savings than the longstanding gold standard, the 50/30/20 budget.
    — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The family has several immediate needs, including clothing, food, personal items and help with temporary living expenses, Sharp said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of expense
Noun
  • But a lack of high-end skill, particularly up front, remains the most glaring drawback.
    — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • That could, however, come with some drawbacks, Conley noted, like the possibility of the shops creating competition with existing downtown businesses and the difficulty of finding vendors each year.
    — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of drawback
Noun
  • Political observers think Talarico could surge to the fore in the primary despite, or perhaps because of, his outsider status.
    — Julia Mueller, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Despite the fact that the age of female winners has been steadily increasing in the last despite, the average female Oscar winner is 39 years old, according to a Sky News 2023 report—almost a decade younger than the average male winner at 47.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2023
Definition of despite
Noun
  • The attribution of liability that the author references is but one example.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Bohm’s lawsuit, which was filed in Philadelphia County on March 25, alleged Daniel and Lisa committed financial impropriety while running limited liability companies on his behalf and misrepresented their stakes in those entities.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of liability
Noun
  • Across a run of six defeats in seven matches, which left his tenure hanging by a thread, the Forest and Brighton losses were the worst.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Rice lipids and jojoba oil seal in moisture and replenish the skin barrier, while 2% ectoin soothes redness and protects against water loss.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of loss

Browse Nearby Words

disaccustomed
disadvantage
disadvantaged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disadvantage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disadvantage. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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