1
as in drunk
being under the influence of alcohol
driving while impaired is against the law
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disabled
deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities
special devices for sight-impaired visitors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in damaged
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
already impaired by a crack, the windshield shattered upon impact with the baseball
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impaired
Mary Ella Hastings
june 18,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Because no alcohol screening was conducted at the scene, prosecutors were unable to pursue impaired driving charges, which could have carried a much longer sentence.
—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Kendrick Calfee
june 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
And second, the ability of killer T cells to interact with key immune cells in the brain was impaired, leading to ongoing inflammation.
—
Smita S. Iyer,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impaired
Adjective
Carly Beatty, a 19-year-old Texas A&M student studying animal science, had a lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian, but she was killed in 2019 by an impaired driver in College Station.
—
Mary Ella Hastings
june 18,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Because no alcohol screening was conducted at the scene, prosecutors were unable to pursue impaired driving charges, which could have carried a much longer sentence.
—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
Evidence at the scene led officers to investigate whether the Honda driver was impaired at the time of the crash.
—
Kendrick Calfee
june 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
And second, the ability of killer T cells to interact with key immune cells in the brain was impaired, leading to ongoing inflammation.
—
Smita S. Iyer,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impaired
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impaired
Adjective
-
At a different show, a drunk pedestrian tried to board the bus during faux-Monroe’s speech.
-
The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office said evidence presented during the trial showed Sherman was drunk and had taken psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, in his Lodi apartment prior to meeting Makinano outside Garry's Lounge that night.
Adjective
-
The law that approved free enrollment for certain disabled veterans also provides for free PreCheck for Gold Star families and a $25 discount on the fee for active servicemembers and their spouses.
-
There are 32 parking spaces and 2 disabled parking spots within the plaza, Satvinder said.
Verb
-
Joshua Serad, of Maple Shade, stole and damaged Pride flags Monday in the business district of Haddonfield on Kings Highway, according to police.
-
Flying bricks damaged the crossing’s signal arms, and the crossing was closed by Union Pacific.
Adjective
-
Throughout the 1980s, the group was associated with hooliganism and rowdy, drunken behavior typical of European football culture at the time.
-
Proctor was fired after the second trial concluded with Read’s acquittal on all charges save for drunken driving.
Verb
-
The man does not appear to be injured.
-
The shootings, which police suspect were committed by one man, left one person dead and four people injured.
Adjective
-
The treat features McDonald's signature apple filling, wrapped in a golden, fried crust.
-
Southern Grandmas know that fried potatoes aren't just for supper.
Verb
-
The Toronto Blue Jays' 2026 season has been marred by injuries, with veteran pitcher Max Scherzer facing significant setbacks.
-
As Bloomberg recently reported, brides are buying $14 spells from witches on Etsy to ensure that their $100,000 weddings are not marred by blizzards or downpours.
Adjective
-
Drive at a reduced speed during wet weather.
-
In May, confirming rumors that had been swirling for months, Anthropic’s life sciences lead Eric Kauderer-Abrams publicly acknowledged that the company is building out its own wet labs and hiring biologists to run its own basic research.
Cite this Entry
“Impaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impaired. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
