1
: a refund of duties especially on an imported product subsequently exported or used to produce a product for export
2
: an objectionable feature : disadvantage
The plan's only drawback is its cost.
drew back; drawn back; drawing back; draws back
: to avoid an issue or commitment
Examples of drawback in a Sentence
Noun
The trip sounds great, but cost is a major drawback.
this plan has only one drawback: it's unworkable
Recent Examples on the Web
Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 25 Dec. 2025
There are drawbacks, of course.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
Her portfolio includes imagery for a Vogue feature that drew back the curtain on nine workers in New York City’s Garment District.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drawback
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Noun
Electric toothbrushes have some potential drawbacks to consider.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 25 Dec. 2025
There are drawbacks, of course.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
Verb
Set in Atlanta, Thompson plays a news anchor named Anna who is becoming something of a recluse due to her job, but she is drawn back to her hometown following a murder.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
Her portfolio includes imagery for a Vogue feature that drew back the curtain on nine workers in New York City’s Garment District.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for drawback
Cite this Entry
“Drawback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drawback. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drawback
noun
draw·back
ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 
: an undesirable feature : disadvantage entry 1
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