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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of handicap
Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Horan is a passionate golfer with a single-figure handicap of approximately 8-9, a regular at pro-ams and the founder of Modest!
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
But now, environmental advocates worry its storied tenure might finally be coming to an end under plans to reorganize a department already handicapped by staff shortages and strip it of environmental-permitting authority.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Noun
Horan is a passionate golfer in his own right, carrying an approximate 8-9 handicap and regularly appearing at pro-am events.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Horan is a passionate golfer with a single-figure handicap of approximately 8-9, a regular at pro-ams and the founder of Modest!
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Teams have been trying to handicap when expansion could hit, going on forecasting retreats and studying what could be the most disruptive team-building moment to hit the league in more than two decades.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
But now, environmental advocates worry its storied tenure might finally be coming to an end under plans to reorganize a department already handicapped by staff shortages and strip it of environmental-permitting authority.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handicap
Noun
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The United States’ withdrawal from the WHO, which took effect in January, has put American public health officials at a disadvantage, says David Larsen, PhD, professor and chair of the public health department at Syracuse University.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
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Instead, perhaps plucky Oklahoma, with all of its financial disadvantages, scheduling struggles and three-star players, could shake up the world.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The Sixers, however, hadn’t considered the circumstances, the stakes, the resilience of an opponent with far bigger fish to fry than a second-round obstacle.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
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All of this creates significant obstacles to its use as fuel for nuclear weapons.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
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The intensity of the flames and the resulting smoke, compounded by the fact that the fire spread over the area mostly after dark, hampered the aerial firefighting strategy.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Montverde senior Jizelle Holland piled up points with runner-up finishes in both hurdles finals, a sixth in the triple jump and a leg on the winning relay.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
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Plantation senior Nyla Christian won the long jump and placed second in the 100 hurdles to lead a contingent of Broward and Palm Beach County athletes in a parade to the podium.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Those struggles from deep, specifically Clark’s, are not going to hinder them all season.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
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Officials say that bright sunlight hindering the driver's vision could be a possible contributing factor.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Inside a New York City welfare office, WELFARE reveals the human struggles, bureaucratic barriers, and impossible choices at the heart of the social safety net.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
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Construction crews building a barrier between the United States and Mexico damaged a 200-foot-long etching of a fish embedded in the land that is thought to be 1,000 years old, according to a report in the Washington Post.—
Andy Battaglia,
ARTnews.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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During the next three weeks, mobile internet was impeded or shut off in the center of Moscow.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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State and federal agencies don’t track data around vitamin K injection refusal or subsequent bleeding, which impedes their ability to quantify and track outcomes, including death.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Coastal and eastern areas offer more dramatic settings, but come with greater risk from haze and obstruction.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
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The hearings stretched into July, when the Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handicap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicap. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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