drawback

1 of 2

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 

1

: a refund of duties especially on an imported product subsequently exported or used to produce a product for export

2

: an objectionable feature : disadvantage

The plan's only drawback is its cost.

draw back

2 of 2

verb

drȯ-ˈbak 

drew back; drawn back; drawing back; draws back

intransitive verb

: to avoid an issue or commitment

Synonyms

Noun

• debit
• disadvantage
• disbenefit
• downside
• handicap
• incommodity
• liability
• minus
• negative
• strike

Examples of drawback in a Sentence

Noun

The trip sounds great, but cost is a major drawback.

this plan has only one drawback: it's unworkable

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Despite these benefits, there are some drawbacks to forming an S Corp. —Jessica Ledingham, J.d., Ll.m., Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

The drawback, of course, was Anunoby’s status as a pending unrestricted free agent. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025

Verb

Philadelphia’s Owen Tippett capped a 4-point night (1-3-4) by scoring on a breakaway at 3:30 of overtime, drawing Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins forward by faking a shot, only to draw back the puck and score off his backhand. —Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024

Security is essential not only for oil and gas production, but also to draw back many of the eight million refugees who fled the fighting. —Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1572, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

drawback

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 

: an undesirable feature : disadvantage entry 1