as in disability
a condition in which a part of your body or mind is damaged and does not work well
Her mother had a hearing impairment that had become worse with age.
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Recent Examples of impairment
By one measure, the drug slowed cognitive decline by 52% in people with mild cognitive impairment.
—
Jon Hamilton, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
The Wisconsin State Patrol trooper detected signs of impairment related to drug use, administered field sobriety tests and then arrested and transported him to a hospital for a legal blood draw, according to the release.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
What the team found was that always or frequently listening to music was associated with the greatest benefits, with a 39% lower incidence of dementia and 17% lower incidence of cognitive impairment.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025
This assistance includes support for children with autism, blindness, deafness, emotional and developmental disabilities and students with orthopedic impairments.
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Jon Hamilton, NPR, 29 Oct. 2025
The Wisconsin State Patrol trooper detected signs of impairment related to drug use, administered field sobriety tests and then arrested and transported him to a hospital for a legal blood draw, according to the release.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
What the team found was that always or frequently listening to music was associated with the greatest benefits, with a 39% lower incidence of dementia and 17% lower incidence of cognitive impairment.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025
This assistance includes support for children with autism, blindness, deafness, emotional and developmental disabilities and students with orthopedic impairments.
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impairment
Noun
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For example, independent living programs and programs that train, hire and retain workers with disabilities can ensure the economic success of people with autism.—
Joshua Anbar,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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The amendment invests an additional $450,000 in Birth to Three providers, which help families with children who experience disabilities and developmental delays, including vision and hearing challenges, during the crucial early stage of development.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Tyson Kozak left the game with a lower-body injury after just three shifts.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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According to the Department of Transportation, daylight saving time saves energy, prevents traffic injuries and reduces crime.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These can cause severe scarring or disablement and may lead to amputations.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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Playing Arnie, the younger brother to Gilbert (Johnny Depp), DiCaprio doesn’t permit his character to be a simple, adorable variation on disablement.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The building and its contents sustained around $100,000 in damage during the fire, WIVB reported.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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The magnitude of the attack and the extent of its damage was not immediately known.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impairment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impairment. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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