as in to injure
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
already impaired by a crack, the windshield shattered upon impact with the baseball
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Recent Examples of impair
Volunteers are needed to guide blind and visually-impaired hikers on a gentle hike from Franklin’s Cafe & Market to a heliport in the park.
—
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Both of these products can impair judgement and compromise driving skills.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
This matters because chronically high blood sugar levels can impair immune cell function and weaken the body’s ability to fight infection, Shah says.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Russia’s second front The most dangerous front in Europe this year will shift from the trenches in Donetsk to the hybrid war between Russia and NATO as Vladimir Putin seeks to erode European support for Ukraine before economic strain impairs his ability to prosecute the hot war.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impair
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Both of these products can impair judgement and compromise driving skills.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
This matters because chronically high blood sugar levels can impair immune cell function and weaken the body’s ability to fight infection, Shah says.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Russia’s second front The most dangerous front in Europe this year will shift from the trenches in Donetsk to the hybrid war between Russia and NATO as Vladimir Putin seeks to erode European support for Ukraine before economic strain impairs his ability to prosecute the hot war.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impair
Verb
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When Dobbins was first injured, a source close to him said the best-case scenario for his return was if the Broncos made the Super Bowl.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Jan. 2026
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Dellandrea was injured in the Sharks’ game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as his right leg struck the post after he was inadvertently tripped while driving to the net.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some government offices and financial institutions were damaged during the unrest, residents said, while merchants reported being ordered to reopen businesses despite ongoing security operations.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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The gunfire damaged the car’s rear end, trunk, tail light and rear window louver, according to court documents.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The announcement comes as consumer demand for plug-in hybrids has slowed and federal support for electric powertrains has vanished, while, simultaneously, certain Stellantis 4xe vehicles have been marred by continuous recalls.—
Liam Rappleye,
Freep.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Their union was marred by affairs on both sides, perhaps most notably Charles’s ongoing affair with the former Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla).—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Both have endured crippling US sanctions that have precipitated economic collapses.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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In November 2021, while massing troops along its border with Ukraine, Russia threatened to cripple GPS if NATO got in the way.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After all, there are signs that the economy is improving (unemployment and inflation are declining), but after the economic struggles of recent years, and with household debt still high, an additional financing source won't hurt, either.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Critics say the practice has driven up home prices and hurt affordability, but some housing experts argue the president’s proposal would have minimal effect on overall housing supply.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Its golden, flaky crust gives way to a gooey filling that’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart, proof that allergy-friendly and vegan creations don’t have to compromise on flavor.—
Austin American Statesman,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
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By integrating regulated on ramp and off ramp flows into its infrastructure, inabit enables companies to manage the full lifecycle of crypto payments and treasury operations without compromising on custody, control, or regulatory alignment.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Erosion threatens land, heritage, and infrastructure The Holderness coastline has long been recognised as one of Europe’s most rapidly eroding coastal regions.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
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Public trust in the justice system is eroded when political cronyism is rewarded over fairness, when accountability is resisted, and when devastating errors are defended instead of confronted.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impair. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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