IMPAIRMENT Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

impairment

noun

Definition of impairment

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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example 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 impairment The review describes cognitive and behavioral consequences that can include impairments in working memory, decision making and emotional regulation. — Shahrzad Jalali, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 But because the study was observational, the results only demonstrate a correlation between ADHD and cognitive impairment, not that ADHD causes it. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Police said in a social media post that officers contacted the man at the scene and observed signs of possible impairment from a central nervous system stimulant. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Accessibility for those with mobility impairments Two of the villas—one Dune One-Bedroom Pool Villa and one Dune Two-Bedroom Pool Villa—are wheelchair accessible. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impairment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impairment

Noun

Most companies have policies addressing pregnancy, disability and other health conditions.

— Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Additionally, ethnic and Indigenous minorities, such as the Roma people in Europe and the Uyghur people in China, are targets of the practice, as are people with disabilities and transgender and intersex persons.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of disability

Noun

Not only were LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges absent after high-profile summertime trades, but returnees Kon Knueppel and Coby White were also missing because of injury.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026
In addition to a person in his car dying from injuries sustained in the crash, another passenger was severely hurt, the release said.

— Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of injury

Noun

These can cause severe scarring or disablement and may lead to amputations.

— Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Playing Arnie, the younger brother to Gilbert (Johnny Depp), DiCaprio doesn’t permit his character to be a simple, adorable variation on disablement.

— Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025

Definition of disablement

Browse Nearby Words

impairing

impairment

impairments

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Impairment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impairment. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of impairment

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shindig

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes