IMPAIRS Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

impairs

verb

present tense third-person singular of impair

as in damages

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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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 impairs The BBBofC also observes that just a two per cent loss of body fluid impairs performance while 10 per cent can cause circulatory failure and heat stroke. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Financial stress impairs the cognitive functioning that good financial decision-making requires. — Dr. Erika Rasure, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026 The delay, the filing notes, impairs Pewitt’s defense because the memories of witnesses fade and their availability is unknown, and the ability to find and re-examine physical evidence after 31 years is compromised. — Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Hwang suffered a traumatic brain injury from the attack, leading to ataxia, a neurological disorder that impairs movement and muscle control, and occasional seizures. — Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Punishment should be reserved for the guilty, not the sick, and postpartum psychosis, by definition, impairs a mother’s ability to process reality. — Uruj Kamal Haider, Time, 21 July 2026 The chronic disease, which impairs the body’s ability to properly regulate blood sugar, contributed to 94,445 deaths that year. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 Cold water shock impairs breathing and can overwhelm even strong swimmers within seconds. — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 28 June 2026 Aphasia impairs a person's ability to speak. — Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impairs

Verb

Nor'easter damages towns at Jersey Shore New Jersey State Police emergency management officials used a drone Monday to survey the damage along the promenade.

— Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
This might happen if a hurricane damages a roof, and rain gets inside and soaks the entire house or several rooms, experts said.

— Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of damages

Verb

This pest injures the host plant by using its piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap.

— Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Travel could require boarding or pet-sitting expenses, while a dog that damages property or injures someone could create potential liability issues.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of injures

Verb

Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Jacob Whitehead Homophobic chant mars Mexico’s win Before the World Cup, the Mexican football federation launched a campaign that featured the heroes of the country’s 1986 World Cup side.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of mars

Verb

Each decision to move work overseas further weakens the economic conditions needed to sustain domestic capacity.

— George Whittier, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
However, Bernstein pointed out that even if the global AI trade weakens, India is unlikely to see any major reversal of foreign capital flows.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of weakens

Verb

When serious failures involving student safety, civil rights and district policy are followed by another administrative reassignment instead of clear accountability, public trust erodes.

— Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2026
This is exactly the kind of arrangement that erodes public trust.

— José Javier Rodríguez, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of erodes

Verb

There are larger forces at work, the stuff that hurts people who hurt people, and portraying that hurt (and its goal, escape) with understanding – not to say excuse-making – takes uncommon talent.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
Even small amounts of water entering this compartment can interfere with the lithium chemistry and form an unwanted solid-electrolyte interphase that eventually hurts the reaction.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of hurts

Verb

This financial burden compromises one’s ability to save and cover other expenses.

— Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 27 Sep. 2026
By forcing these channels to exist in technical vacuums, leaders isolate a brand’s sentiment from its acquisition and financial engines, and that directly compromises top-line revenue.

— Paul M. Wilson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of compromises

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“Impairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impairs. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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verb

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