as in damages
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 impairs
About 6 million Americans had opioid use disorder — a problematic pattern of opioid use that significantly impairs or distresses a patient — as of 2022, according to the CDC.
—
Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
In addition to affecting sleep, chronic stress impairs concentration and cognitive function.
—Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 3 May 2026
Lead impairs cognition and cadmium harms the kidneys.
—Anton L. Delgado, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Studies show that water loss of less than 1% impairs your memory and attention.
—Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2026
Sleep loss impairs athletic performance and the ability to rebound from exercise.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Apr. 2026
The National Sleep Foundation concluded there isn’t enough evidence to confirm that blue light from screens before bed reliably impairs adult sleep.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
In addition to affecting sleep, chronic stress impairs concentration and cognitive function.
—Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 3 May 2026
Lead impairs cognition and cadmium harms the kidneys.
—Anton L. Delgado, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Studies show that water loss of less than 1% impairs your memory and attention.
—Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2026
Sleep loss impairs athletic performance and the ability to rebound from exercise.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Apr. 2026
The National Sleep Foundation concluded there isn’t enough evidence to confirm that blue light from screens before bed reliably impairs adult sleep.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impairs
Verb
-
Even one drink of alcohol damages the immune system, lowering its ability to battle invaders within 20 minutes of consumption.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Nebraska 2nd District The leading Democratic hopefuls in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District have been battling over whether one candidate's campaign damages the party's competitiveness in the area.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
This storyline later appeared in the second season of Girls, as Dunham’s character Hannah is overwhelmed with the anxiety of writing a novel and similarly injures herself.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In her desperation to ask Val for a job on the new sitcom, Sharon falls and injures herself.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No sadness mars the purity of its paranoia.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
However, an earnestness mars most of the proceedings.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As complexity rises, decisions fragment, priorities shift and trust weakens.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The author takes an overnight Amtrak journey instead of a flight to Washington as the government shutdown cripples Atlanta’s airport.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
These pressures could produce a tsunami that fractures the state’s fiscal foundation, self-inflicts a crisis ultimately demanding drastic cuts, and cripples its competitiveness.—
Andrew Rein,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Inconsistent tone weakens the brand, while inaccurate content or misaligned personalization erodes customer trust and costs conversions.—
Georg Ell,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Democrats plan to push weekly war powers votes and military funding limits as Republican support erodes, partly driven by concerns about rising gas prices heading into November elections.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Losing Evans, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Jamel Dean hurts, but the Bucs deserve the benefit of the doubt until someone else in this division proves something.—
Josh Kendall,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Truncating the final season so drastically definitely hurts the first half of the series finale, which feels chaotic and rushed.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Taking Gobert out compromises the Timberwolves’ defense significantly, making the Wolves vulnerable to rim attacks and offensive rebounds.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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But there is some concern about how the infection might manifest if contracted by someone with uncontrolled HIV or another condition that compromises the immune system.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impairs. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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