impaired; impairing; impairs
: to diminish in function, ability, or quality : to weaken or make worse
It has been known for nearly 100 years that memory is impaired by bilateral damage to either of two brain regions …—
Larry R. Squire
Larry R. SquireThe use of drugs further complicates the situation of these families and sometimes impairs their ability to raise children.—Ellen L. Bassuk
Ellen L. Bassuk… the prospect of generating normal profitability is impaired by excessive debt service.—John Nozell
John NozellThe physician also checks for signs of endometriosis, a condition … sometimes impairing fertility.—Martha Southgate
Martha Southgate
impairer
noun
… the overwhelming majority of hookups involved alcohol use—an impairer of sexual judgment if ever there was one …
—Tiffany Sharples
Tiffany Sharples
Synonyms
Examples of impair in a Sentence
Smoking can impair your health.
Drinking impairs a person's ability to think clearly.
His memory was so impaired by age that he often forgot where he was.
Recent Examples on the Web
It was determined that Trocheck, coming from behind the net, caused Blackwood to lose his stick, which impaired his ability to play his position.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Some investors have expressed their concerns that universal tariffs under a Trump administration might impair companies that heavily source their goods from overseas markets.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024
But in a September letter to customers and business partners, Liang (the CEO and founder, not his siblings) emphasized the accounting delay that impacted its annual report and the Hindenburg issue wouldn’t impair its ability to deliver goods.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024
Dignity violations are common in modern workplaces and significantly impair the relationships between leaders and employees.
—Michael Pirson, Harvard Business Review, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impair 
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Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Some investors have expressed their concerns that universal tariffs under a Trump administration might impair companies that heavily source their goods from overseas markets.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024
But in a September letter to customers and business partners, Liang (the CEO and founder, not his siblings) emphasized the accounting delay that impacted its annual report and the Hindenburg issue wouldn’t impair its ability to deliver goods.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024
Dignity violations are common in modern workplaces and significantly impair the relationships between leaders and employees.
—Michael Pirson, Harvard Business Review, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impair
Dictionary Entries Near impair
Cite this Entry
“Impair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impair. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impair
verb
im·pair
im-ˈpa(ə)r 
-ˈpe(ə)r
: to damage or make worse by or as if by making smaller, less, or weaker
smoking can impair one's health
Medical Definition
impair
transitive verb
im·pair
im-ˈpa(ə)r, -ˈpe(ə)r
: to diminish in function, ability, or quality : to weaken or make worse
It has been known for nearly 100 years that memory is impaired by bilateral damage to either of two brain regions …—Larry R. Squire
Larry R. SquireThe physician also checks for signs of endometriosis, a condition in which the cells that normally compose the uterine lining grow outside the uterus, sometimes impairing fertility.—Martha Southgate
Martha SouthgateLegal Definition
impair
transitive verb
im·pair
im-ˈper
1
: to damage or make worse by or as if by diminishing
impaired health
2
: to diminish the value of (property or property rights)
specifically
: to diminish the value of (legal contractual obligations) to the point that a party loses the benefit of the contract or the contract otherwise becomes invalid
a law impairing a state's own obligations was entitled to less deference —Gerald Gunther
see also contract clause
Gerald Gunther
impairment
noun
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