MEANING
To weaken, damage, or diminish the normal strength or functioning of something.
Use it for
Describe diminished judgment, movement, health, or function.Show a capacity or sense compromised without being wholly destroyed.
Words that belong together
- impair judgment
- impair function
- impair movement
On the page
The injury impaired his grip, though he kept the tool steady.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- impair
- Past tense
- impaired
- Past participle
- impaired
- Present participle
- impairing
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- impair
- Present continuous
- am/is/are impairing
- Present perfect
- have/has impaired
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been impairing
- Past
- impaired
- Past continuous
- was/were impairing
- Past perfect
- had impaired
- Past perfect continuous
- had been impairing
- Future
- will impair
- Future continuous
- will be impairing
- Future perfect
- will have impaired
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been impairing
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Usually describes reduced ability or performance, not total loss; impairment is the resulting condition.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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