as in disability
a condition in which a part of your body or mind is damaged and does not work well
Her mother had a hearing impairment that had become worse with age.
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Recent Examples of impairment
There is still a lot of work ahead for the research team, but if the project succeeds, this technology could improve self-driving cars, make robots more adaptable, enhance advanced camera systems, and even serve as a vision aid for people with visual impairments.
—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
27 June 2026
The presence of a medication does not necessarily establish impairment at a specific time.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Rob, 54, forgot how to do his job after a car hit him in a crosswalk, leaving him with cognitive and physical impairment.
—
Maggie Penman,
Washington Post,
25 June 2026
The victims have described being exposed to sensory phenomena such as pressure and noise coming from a specific location and developed brain trauma and a variety of other symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, migraine, visual problems and cognitive impairment.
—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
27 June 2026
The presence of a medication does not necessarily establish impairment at a specific time.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Rob, 54, forgot how to do his job after a car hit him in a crosswalk, leaving him with cognitive and physical impairment.
—
Maggie Penman,
Washington Post,
25 June 2026
The victims have described being exposed to sensory phenomena such as pressure and noise coming from a specific location and developed brain trauma and a variety of other symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, migraine, visual problems and cognitive impairment.
—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for impairment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impairment
Noun
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Many of those affected were elderly residents or people with disabilities living on the fourth and fifth floors of the building.
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Fernandez later died from her injuries and Puig suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her with a lifetime of disabilities.
Noun
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In 2023, more than a decade after a experiencing season-ending racing injuries, Muniz decided to pursue his dream of NASCAR racing full-throttle and announced his return to stock car racing in the ARCA Menards Series.
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Pulisic looked rusty while getting his first start since the group stage opener when he was subbed out at halftime with a calf injury.
Noun
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These can cause severe scarring or disablement and may lead to amputations.
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Playing Arnie, the younger brother to Gilbert (Johnny Depp), DiCaprio doesn’t permit his character to be a simple, adorable variation on disablement.
Noun
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Interruption of blood flow to the brain, which causes brain damage, claimed 166,852 American lives in 2024, per NCHS.
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The filter plant beneath the pool flooded, resulting in damage to motors and other equipment.
Cite this Entry
“Impairment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impairment. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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