IMPAIR Synonyms: 96 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'impair' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of impair are damage , harm , hurt , injure , and mar . While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution. // years of smoking had impaired his health

Q: In what contexts can 'damage' take the place of 'impair'?

The meanings of damage and impair largely overlap; however, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness. // a table damaged in shipping

Q: When might 'harm' be a better fit than 'impair'?

While the synonyms harm and impair are close in meaning, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss. // careful not to harm the animals

Q: When could 'hurt' be used to replace 'impair'?

The words hurt and impair are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings. // hurt by their callous remarks

Q: When is 'injure' a more appropriate choice than 'impair'?

Although the words injure and impair have much in common, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success. // badly injured in an accident

Q: When would 'mar' be a good substitute for 'impair'?

While in some cases nearly identical to impair , mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement. // the text is marred by many typos

impair

verb

im-ˈper

Definition of impair next

as in to injure

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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How is the word impair distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of impair are damage, harm, hurt, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

In what contexts can damage take the place of impair?

The meanings of damage and impair largely overlap; however, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When might harm be a better fit than impair?

While the synonyms harm and impair are close in meaning, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When could hurt be used to replace impair?

The words hurt and impair are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When is injure a more appropriate choice than impair?

Although the words injure and impair have much in common, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When would mar be a good substitute for impair?

While in some cases nearly identical to impair, mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of impair In a separate study that is also being presented this week, the same research team investigated how obesity and belly fat can impair blood flow to the brain. —

Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024 Mitral Stenosis Mitral stenosis occurs when the mitral valve's opening narrows, impairing blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. —

Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024 Tamara Johnson, 37, of Waterbury turned herself in last Thursday on one felony count of risk of injury to a minor/impairing the morals of a minor, according to the Meriden Police Department. —

Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Nov. 2024 The National Aphasia Association defines primary progressive aphasia as a neurological condition that gradually impairs language abilities, often stemming from neurodegenerative diseases like frontotemporal dementia. —

Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for impair

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impair

Verb

Jamie Foxx was injured during an altercation while celebrating his 57th birthday at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, according to his representatives.

Ashley Hume, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024
The driver of the pickup truck was not injured, but his passenger, a 19-year-old San Jose man, was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Jason Green, The Mercury News, 15 Dec. 2024