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, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Julian would dismiss the first two, claiming that wokeness gives an old, white male like him the handicap.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 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 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
Julian would dismiss the first two, claiming that wokeness gives an old, white male like him the handicap.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 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 congresswoman was at a disadvantage, unquestionably, in trying to defend against criminal charges at the same time as the House probe.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The real twist here is a disadvantage because, in losing, Christian has to take an envelope back to camp and read its contents in front of his tribe mates.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The system continuously maps nearby activity, such as detecting pedestrians, vehicles, and unexpected obstacles.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
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And that really is a huge obstacle for the Chinese now.—
Jamie Lincoln Kitman,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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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The biggest hurdles have been the logistics of assembling the designs in conjunction with partners WhiteWater West, which helped design Royal Caribbean’s water park as well.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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But for now, many families still face legal hurdles even in places where polyamory is becoming widely accepted.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rams boss Les Snead and Chiefs leadership tandem Andy Reid and Brett Veach don’t seem hindered by obstacles either, despite later draft slots and paying future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Store them in one layer to avoid crushing, and keep them in cool, dry conditions in the fridge to hinder mold growth.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Researchers in China have developed a new catalyst that helped a lithium-sulfur battery retain 93 percent of its capacity after 600 charge-discharge cycles, a step that could address one of the biggest barriers to commercializing the high-energy battery chemistry.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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Three days after distance runner Sabastian Sawe became the first man to break the two-hour barrier in the marathon, his outfitter, Adidas, was still taking a victory lap.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Critics, meanwhile, say the legislation would impede on First Amendment rights.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Do not stop on the roadway or impede traffic.—
Devarrick Turner,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The 13-year-old from Long Island, New York, had been born with ureterovesical junction obstruction, a rare congenital disease, where a blockage between the ureter and bladder causes urine to back up into the kidney.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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According to police, necropsy results for both of the dead dogs revealed a cylindrical obstruction, resembling a corn cob, as well as a black substance consistent with bedding material.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handicap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicap. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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