to impair

Examples

• All

• He took a walk every day until the tumor impaired his mobility.

  Small Apartments (2012)

• And their response was, well, you know, anything that causes us any kind of stress impairs our operational security.

• It's been known to impair judgment.

  In the Line of Fire (1993)

• If I get you too hot, I can impair the amount of REM sleep.

  Andrew Huberman

• So high levels of sugar over time we know can impair mitochondrial function.

  The Diary Of A CEO

• A lot of times, being drunk impairs you far beyond being high.

• If you care too much, it impairs your judgment.

  S.W.A.T.: Firefight (2011)

• Yes, because the blood supply has been impaired, so there's less oxygen.

• Signs shows that stress impairs cognition, attention, and memory.

• Improper solid waste disposal in cities impairs human health and causes economic, environmental and biological losses.

Synonyms

D

to damage

vsto impair

885 1.4

To harm something so it becomes less useful, valuable, or healthy

also refers to reducing effectiveness even when no obvious harm shows

W

to weaken

vsto impair

305 2.8

To make people and things less strong or effective

also involves causing harm that reduces usefulness or quality

S

to spoil

vsto impair

80 2.8

To make something less good or enjoyable

is more about reducing effectiveness or usefulness rather than just harming quality

D

to debilitate

vsto impair

20 7.7

To make a person, animal, or thing weak and less able to work

covers general harm or loss of effectiveness in any area, not only physical

E

to emasculate

vsto impair

10 8.8

To make something weaker or less effective

may cover harm that reduces function without stripping core power

E

to eviscerate

vsto impair

• Formal

10 9.1

To take away an important part so something loses its power

means stripping vital parts, while the main idea can mean lesser or partial harm

A

to attenuate

vsto impair

9 7.9

To make something weaker, like sound or light

focuses on lowering intensity or size rather than causing lasting harm

D

to deaden

vsto impair

3 5.5

To make a feeling, sound, or pain less strong

applies more broadly to causing harm or reduced function, not only dullness

I

to impinge on

vsto impair

• Formal

3 7.5

Have a negative effect on something, often limiting it

focuses on limiting or restricting rather than directly causing loss of function

V

to vitiate

vsto impair

• Formal

2 9.9

Make a contract or decision not valid by law

tends to reduce quality or usefulness rather than fully nullifying it

M

to mar

vsto impair

2 5.3

To damage how something looks or its quality

typically involves broader loss of function or quality, not only visible marks

D

to defang

vsto impair

2 7.9

To make a threat or criticism less powerful

usually targets specific harms like threats, while the main idea covers harm in general

N

to nerf

vsto impair

• Slang

1 8.6

To make something weaker, especially in a game after an update

is mainly used for small deliberate changes in games or tech, not general harm

A

to attrit

vsto impair

• Jargon

1 9.9

To make people or forces fewer and weaker by slow, steady pressure

describes slow wearing down over time, not sudden harm or single acts

S

to stultify

vsto impair

• Formal

1 9.8

Make someone or something lose energy and stop working well

often implies loss of spirit or motivation, not just physical or material harm

Antonyms

E

to enhance

424 4.0

Make something better or more attractive

R

repair

352 2.3

Work done to fix something that is broken

How Damaging

to destroy

∞ 1.0

to disable

87 3.5

to impair

61 5.1

to damage

885 1.4

to mar

2 5.3

scratch

203 1.6

Surface Forms

Etymology