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handicap

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of handicap

1 a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success
  • Her natural shyness was not a handicap when she played chess.
Synonyms of handicap

debit, disadvantage, downside, drawback, incommodity, liability, minus, negative, strike
Words Related to handicap

albatross, millstone, stranglehold

disability, impairment

failing, shortcoming

bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel
Near Antonyms of handicap

vantage

head start, jump, lead, margin, start

ascendancy (also ascendency), better, command, control, drop, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, upper hand

prerogative, privilege

break, opportunity

aid, assistance, help
Antonyms of handicap

advantage, asset, edge, plus
2 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 of handicap

balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, fetter, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
Words Related to handicap

catch, hitch, rub, snag

barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall

arrest, bit, brake, check, constraint, curb, hobble, rein, restraint

embargo, stoppage

delay, holdup, stall

burden, cumber, load

danger, hazard, peril, reef

adversity, difficulty, disadvantage, drawback, hardship
Near Antonyms of handicap

catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus

advantage, break, edge

aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden (also handmaid), help

handicap

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of handicap

to create difficulty for the work or activity of
  • The baseball player's small size did not handicap him in the least.
Synonyms of handicap

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, stymie, tie up, trammel
Words Related to handicap

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain

bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie

arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard

barricade, block, blockade, roadblock

bog (down), mire

choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate

baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart

derail, disrupt, sabotage

muzzle, repress, suppress

confine, hedge (in), hem (in)
Phrases Synonymous with handicap

cramp one's style, give a hard time
Near Antonyms of handicap

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop

free, liberate, release, untie

loosen, smooth

encourage, further, promote
Antonyms of handicap

aid, assist, facilitate, help

Learn More about handicap

  1. See words that rhyme with handicap Dictionary: Definition of handicap Medical Dictionary: Definition of handicap Spanish Central: Translation of handicap Nglish: Translation of handicap for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of handicap for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about handicap

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