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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
The cars' real handicaps were a lack of liquid cooling for the battery packs.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
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
-
In fact, a 2024 British Journal of Sports Medicine study funded in part by the IOC found that trans women athletes may face several disadvantages when competing with cisgender women, such as less lower body strength and a lower maximum rate of oxygen consumption than both cis women and cis men.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
11 Nov. 2025
-
When asked about potential disadvantages, Roberson said officials hear from educators who can be reluctant to adjust lesson plans.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Desert plants replace mountain vegetation and offer new obstacles.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
When entering new environments, guide them carefully to highlight potential obstacles.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Kolfage is alleged to have used the funds to pay for home renovations, make payments on a boat, and purchase a luxury sports utility vehicle, cosmetic surgery and to pay off credit card debt and personal tax liabilities.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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But companies that are still waiting and seeing might want to get a move on because any liabilities that come will come quickly, Conklin said.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
One of the largest hurdles was ensuring that behavior learned on Earth would translate to space, an issue often called the Sim2Real gap.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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Yet many Venezuelans are facing significant hurdles when seeking asylum in the United States and elsewhere.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Martian atmosphere presents a major obstacle to safely and precisely landing on the surface, and also hinders any attempts to return contents (or people) back to Earth.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
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Therefore, the siloed nature of retail, not a lack of skills or resources, will prove to be the most significant barrier that hinders progress.—
Raj Dhiman,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Place your pile at least 6 feet away from cars, boats, basketball hoops and other obstructions and make sure there’s space between the curb and pile to allow water to flow to storm drains.—
Sarah Linn
November 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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The obstructions appear to be concentrated in areas where the White House proposed cutting the federal budget next year.—
Amy Maxmen,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Let go of whatever impedes your progress and growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
22 Oct. 2025
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If a mental image only impedes the human’s process of emulation, why should her mindedness make Celmins’s web less natural than the spider’s?—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handicaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicaps. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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