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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of handicap
Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The cars' real handicaps were a lack of liquid cooling for the battery packs.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
Darius Dotch has been invariably impressive on area stages over the past several years, but he’s handicapped by Shider making Hines’ husband a one-note nag.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Noun
The festival grounds are handicap accessible.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The cars' real handicaps were a lack of liquid cooling for the battery packs.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Rourke said the 2024 changes to the law unduly handicap his office.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
Darius Dotch has been invariably impressive on area stages over the past several years, but he’s handicapped by Shider making Hines’ husband a one-note nag.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handicap
Noun
-
But without Cooper, Willams and Patton, the Cyclones will be at a severe personnel disadvantage.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
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Hoffman acknowledged that the developers of data centers have been prone to operate in secret out of their concern of putting clients at a competitive disadvantage compared with rival companies.—
Peter Passi,
Twin Cities,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Yet, their durability remained the key obstacle to commercial deployment.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Nov. 2025
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What resists smooth transmission isn’t an obstacle to communication, but part of its meaning and texture.—
Ross Benjamin,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Damage to the blood-brain barrier leads to inflammation within the brain and hampers the clearance of waste products like beta-amyloid protein (seen in Alzheimer's disease).—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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All of these issues combined have left Target with a workforce that has grown faster than sales and a complex corporate structure that has hampered decision-making and created needless red tape.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,Annie Palmer,Frank Holland,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Now that some Democrats have signaled new support for reopening the government, Congress has to clear a number of procedural hurdles.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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Lawmakers must still approve the final version of the continuing resolution and spending package, a process that could take several more days if all 100 senators don’t agree to waive procedural hurdles.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Yet, challenges such as battery weight, regulation, safety, and scalability still hinder most projects.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
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Did the leaks hinder your creative approach to making music?—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Mamdani will face high expectations and even higher barriers to executing an agenda that includes enormous bureaucratic, political, and logistic hurdles.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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In this conversation with Interesting Engineering, Elbasyouni reflects on his path from a curious kid who hacked radios to a leader in aerospace innovation, the lessons learned from startups and deep-space engineering, and the mindset needed to break through barriers, technical and otherwise.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Yet the current administration’s dismissive stance toward mRNA science, particularly COVID vaccines, could impede that effort.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
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New data shows Loop vacancies ballooned over the recent third quarter as post-pandemic work trends continue to impact and impede demand.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The charges included conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Look for the nearest tree, fence, building, car, or other obstruction to duck behind.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handicap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicap. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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