1
as in disadvantages
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 obstacles
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hampers
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 handicaps
Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
All of the electric buses are equipped with accessories for students with handicaps.
—Harley Walls, Arkansas Online, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
Secondary school students in less affluent states will find themselves with substandard educational offerings that may serve as handicaps when those students compete with those who have benefited from enriched educational opportunities provided in wealthier states.
—Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
All of the electric buses are equipped with accessories for students with handicaps.
—Harley Walls, Arkansas Online, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handicaps
Noun
-
Yet Democrats still face structural disadvantages.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
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My only advice is to do your homework and know there are advantages and disadvantages associated with any medical procedure.—
Bryant Stamford,
The Courier-Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Similarly, Arizona’s native flora and fauna have their own obstacles to survival in one of the world’s most unforgiving landscapes.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Some cities install physical barriers like planters, bike racks, or other obstacles, to ensure compliance.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This creates the potential for additional refund liabilities stretching into hundreds of billions more—a cascading series of fiscal obligations that Treasury markets would need to absorb over the coming years.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Today, Jason represents individuals and businesses in disputes with the IRS and state tax authorities, with a focus on high-stakes liabilities and strategic resolutions in complex cases.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Artest has aspirations to set the program record and win the state championship in the 300 hurdles.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Back in 2012, Tesla’s board offered him a deal based on production and stock price hurdles.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This innovative platform, which researchers are exploring for applications ranging from flu to cancer to AIDS, poses a threat to global defenses against future crises and hinders progress in biomedical innovation.—
Bernadette Boden Albala,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The Bonner hamstring injury further hinders this crew.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In 2025, Roborock launched a vacuum cleaner with a robotic arm for moving socks and other obstructions out of the way.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
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The Buck is collecting data to identify any obstructions to the safe navigation of traffic entering or exiting the Port of Baltimore via the Fort McHenry Federal Channel.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Such misrecognition impedes effective disease management and underscores the need to reevaluate Chagas disease's endemic status.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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That case alleges Apple systematically impedes third-party apps and accessories, from super-apps to cloud streaming and digital wallets, to keep users locked in.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handicaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicaps. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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