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
Investigators were trying to determine if speed or some type of impairment were factors in the crash.
—
Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Farley, a former New York City health commissioner who teaches at Tulane University, acknowledged that many factors contribute to falls, including the physical impairments and deteriorating eyesight associated with advancing age; alcohol abuse; and tripping hazards in people’s homes.
—Paula Span, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Nearly 3 percent of children under 18 years have blindness or vision impairment, defined as trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The Bottom Line The effects of THC/CBD can feel very different and take longer to kick in, which can make people underestimate their level of impairment.
—Amy Brightfield, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Farley, a former New York City health commissioner who teaches at Tulane University, acknowledged that many factors contribute to falls, including the physical impairments and deteriorating eyesight associated with advancing age; alcohol abuse; and tripping hazards in people’s homes.
—Paula Span, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Nearly 3 percent of children under 18 years have blindness or vision impairment, defined as trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The Bottom Line The effects of THC/CBD can feel very different and take longer to kick in, which can make people underestimate their level of impairment.
—Amy Brightfield, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impairment
Noun
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The Social Security Administration will continue to issue retirement and disability benefits, but will furlough 12% of its staff and pause marketing campaigns, according to the agency’s shutdown plan.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Eight percent of directors self-identified as having a disability, and submissions reflected a broad ethnic spectrum, including African American and Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, Middle Eastern, West Indian and Caribbean, and multiracial creators.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Florida, meanwhile, had an offensive explosion with 457 yards on a night when quarterback DJ Lagway and receiver Dallas Wilson — making his college debut after a foot injury sidelined the freshman prior to Saturday — showed off the upside the Gators have been waiting for.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Church member Greg Mikat was shot three times, according to the GoFundMe his sister has organized, sustaining injuries to his leg and chest and remains hospitalized, after confronting the gunman.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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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Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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The observatory has faced tens of thousands of dollars in damages, Kaltenecker said, and lost gear and important plant life.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impairment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impairment. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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