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
Washington Post, 23 June 2017
One man, who has a handicap, had to escape through a window, according to media reports.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, kansascity.com, 21 June 2017
Ben Goggin, NBC news, 8 May 2025
So what you're left with in terms of handicapping the race for pope is the endless guess-work by the Vatican experts at Rome's top media outlets.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Noun
When Britain leaves the EU, British financial services companies would lose the automatic right to operate in all the other 27 EU states, a big handicap.
—Washington Post, 23 June 2017
One man, who has a handicap, had to escape through a window, according to media reports.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, kansascity.com, 21 June 2017
Verb
Security advocates have praised the proliferation of the technology, but many law enforcement and child safety advocates have said that widespread use of end-to-end encryption will severely handicap the ability of law enforcement and tech companies to detect crime on their platforms.
—Ben Goggin, NBC news, 8 May 2025
So what you're left with in terms of handicapping the race for pope is the endless guess-work by the Vatican experts at Rome's top media outlets.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handicap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handicap
Noun
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Beadle is at a distinct disadvantage in aspiring to one spot where Brighton have an abundance of depth.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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This leaves key flexibility providers, including batteries, demand response, and distributed energy resources, at a disadvantage when competing for market revenues.—
Elena Bou,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article The path back to the pinnacle was littered with obstacles.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
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But there’s a major obstacle: municipalities, not the national government, are responsible for managing stray animals.—
Lisa Klaassen,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
21 June 2025
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As exciting as the high-speed maze gameplay gets, though, Pac-Man Superfast is hampered by a few odd design decisions.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The service faces regulatory and safety hurdles but has been lauded for its ability to cut traffic congestion and slash emissions.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
30 June 2025
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The vote-a-rama is the last hurdle before a vote on final passage of the bill in the Senate.—
Allison Pecorin,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
Verb
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However, rather than hindering its movement, this feature is actually an adaptation that enhances its ability to survive in a diverse range of North American habitats.—
Smithsonian magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 June 2025
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Security and Privacy Concerns Persist Security and data privacy remain the leading concerns hindering wider LLM adoption.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Yet, the pace of future development depends on clearing Texas's legislative barriers, securing financing, and restoring confidence among lenders and landowners.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
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With the advantages in warfare, intelligence, and economy that AI maturity will grant a nation-state, why would leaders put up barriers to achieving it?—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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The indictment, announced earlier this month, accuses McIver of three counts: two felonies for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers—each carrying up to eight years in prison—and a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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This month she was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The 71-year-old was convicted in July 2024 of 16 counts, including extortion, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
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According to records from the DeKalb County jail, where the reporter remains detained, he was charged with improperly entering a pedestrian roadway, obstruction of law enforcement officers and unlawful assembly.—
Marlon Sorto,
CNN Money,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handicap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicap. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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