: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: such as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
Brennan supports the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation, swelling, pain and impaired joint movement.—
Stan Bergstein
Stan BergsteinFinding jobs can be difficult for visually impaired adults. About 70 percent of them are unemployed, the National Federation of the Blind says.—Eric Aasen
Eric Aasen… some GERD patients have impaired gut motility, meaning that their stomachs empty too slowly.—Andrew Weil
Andrew Weil
b
: unable to function normally or safely (as when operating a motor vehicle) because of intoxication by alcohol or drugs
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is the safety advertisement that restaurants and bars will use to remind patrons of the dangers of driving impaired.—Mati Spencer
Mati SpencerSynonyms
- besotted
- blasted [slang]
- blind
- blitzed [slang]
- blotto [slang]
- bombed
- boozy
- canned [slang]
- cockeyed
- crocked
- drunk
- drunken
- fried
- gassed
- hammered [slang]
- high
- inebriate
- inebriated
- intoxicated
- juiced [slang]
- lit
- lit up
- loaded [slang]
- looped
- oiled [slang]
- pickled
- pie-eyed
- plastered
- potted [slang]
- ripped [slang]
- sloshed [slang]
- smashed [slang]
- sottish
- soused
- sozzled
- squiffed
- squiffy
- stewed
- stiff
- stinking [slang]
- stoned
- tanked [slang]
- tiddly [chiefly British]
- tight
- tipsy
- wasted [slang]
- wet
- wiped out [slang]
Examples of impaired in a Sentence
driving while impaired is against the law
special devices for sight-impaired visitors
Recent Examples on the Web
Police arrested 37-year-old Casey Hatley Ruppe and charged her with driving while impaired.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2025
Timberlake — who shares sons Silas, 9, and Phineas, 4, with the Emmy nominee — pleaded guilty in September to the lesser charge of driving while impaired.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
State police claimed that Campos-Sanchez appeared impaired.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2025
One doctor suggested that many children with medical complexities are simply too impaired to benefit from living in a home environment.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for impaired 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2025
Timberlake — who shares sons Silas, 9, and Phineas, 4, with the Emmy nominee — pleaded guilty in September to the lesser charge of driving while impaired.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
State police claimed that Campos-Sanchez appeared impaired.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2025
One doctor suggested that many children with medical complexities are simply too impaired to benefit from living in a home environment.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for impaired
Dictionary Entries Near impaired
Cite this Entry
“Impaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impaired. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impaired
adjective
im·paired
-ˈpa(ə)rd 
-ˈpe(ə)rd
: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: such as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
impaired heart action
b
: intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
driving while impaired
Medical Definition
impaired
adjective
: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
Brennan supports the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation, swelling, pain and impaired movement.—Stan Bergstein
Stan BergsteinFinding jobs can be difficult for visually impaired adults.—Eric Aasen
Eric Aasen
b
: unable to function normally or safely (as when operating a motor vehicle) because of intoxication by alcohol or drugs
driving while impaired
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