as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
already impaired by a crack, the windshield shattered upon impact with the baseball
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Recent Examples of impairing
Getting Outside Chronic stress wreaks havoc on our health by driving inflammation, disrupting sleep, impairing immune function, and accelerating cellular aging, Killen said.
—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 9 Feb. 2026
Studies will examine both the therapeutic and impairing effects of cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA and alcohol.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Even a single variant can disrupt protein function by impairing subunit assembly and destabilizing the overall structure.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The commerce clause allows Congress to deal with interstate commerce and seeks to prevent states from impairing it.
—Ford Turner Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
There is no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Just because a warrantless civil immigration arrest, governed by § 1357(a), may lead to detention or other consequences governed by §§ 1221-1231 does not mean that an injunction implicating § 1357(a)(2) is effectively an injunction impairing the operation of the covered sections.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
No evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 1 Dec. 2025
There is no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 9 Feb. 2026
Studies will examine both the therapeutic and impairing effects of cannabis, psilocybin, MDMA and alcohol.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Even a single variant can disrupt protein function by impairing subunit assembly and destabilizing the overall structure.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The commerce clause allows Congress to deal with interstate commerce and seeks to prevent states from impairing it.
—Ford Turner Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
There is no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Just because a warrantless civil immigration arrest, governed by § 1357(a), may lead to detention or other consequences governed by §§ 1221-1231 does not mean that an injunction implicating § 1357(a)(2) is effectively an injunction impairing the operation of the covered sections.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
No evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 1 Dec. 2025
There is no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impairing
Verb
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McCarthy warned that being too quick to bring untested criminal cases against political adversaries risks damaging institutional legitimacy regardless of which party is in power.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
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This will keep other items from damaging the leather, as well as keep it dust free.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While traveling through Dayton, Texas, a truck struck the monks’ escort vehicle, injuring several people, according to local media reports previously cited by Reuters.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Johnson had to withdraw from Beijing one month before the Games after injuring her knee.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
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Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, along with Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren, were ejected for fighting, marring what was an intriguing game between the top team in the Eastern Conference and the one featuring the NBA’s longest current win streak.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Other states have done so without compromising food safety.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
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The surgeon performing this type of rhinoplasty must carefully reshape the nasal structure without compromising strength or function.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The department blamed Congress for a sudden $120 million shortfall, but the Herald/Times reported this week that the department’s own actions are crippling the program.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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With temperatures well into the teens and 20s, the ice storm on the southern side will be crippling in terms of travel conditions, trees and power outages.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Unbalanced Or Leaning Tree A weakening root system or poor pruning practices can cause a tree to lean to one side.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
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My opponent, Tim O’Hare, has led with ideology and performative politics, reducing transparency, weakening public participation, and creating financial instability through deficit-style budgeting and reserve spending.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impairing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impairing. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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