impair

CEFRB2

/ɪmˈpɛə/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To damage or weaken something.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.

Examples

  • Social media could greatly impair the intelligence of our kids.

  • "Fly ye, who may, / whom age hath chilled not, nor the years impair."

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
4
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /ɪmˈpeə/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To grow worse; to deteriorate.

  2. To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. The act of impairing or deteriorating.

More examples

In context

  • Hormones impair one's judgment.

  • In 2016, it was announced that Jones had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a form of dementia that impairs the ability to communicate.

  • Flesh may empaire,[…]but reason can repaire.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Drinking too much alcohol can significantly blank your ability to drive safely.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English impairen, empeiren, from Old French empeirier, from Early Medieval Latin impeiōrāre, from in- + Late Latin peiōrāre (“worsen”), from peiōrem (“worse”), comparative of malus (“bad”).