Impair
verb
To make something worse or weaker, often in a somewhat damaging way.
Drinking alcohol can impair your ability to drive.
Often appears as...
- impair judgement
- impair ability
verb
To lessen the value or quality of something.
Having a criminal record might impair your chances of getting a job.
Often appears as...
- impair reputation
- impair chances
verb
In medicine, to weaken or damage a bodily function or part.
Long term use of these drugs can impair liver function.
Often appears as...
- impair function
- impair vision
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To make something worse or weaker, often in a somewhat damaging way.
Drinking alcohol can impair your ability to drive.
Often appears as...
- impair judgement
- impair ability
verb
To lessen the value or quality of something.
Having a criminal record might impair your chances of getting a job.
Often appears as...
- impair reputation
- impair chances
verb
In medicine, to weaken or damage a bodily function or part.
Long term use of these drugs can impair liver function.
Often appears as...
- impair function
- impair vision
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Slight Damage
Impair indicates a partial, rather than a complete, decline in function or condition.
Overworking might impair your health slightly, but not ruin it.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
Using 'impair' suggests that the effect or outcome is negative or undesirable.
Poor lighting can impair visibility on the road.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Permanent
The damage or weakening implied by 'impair' is often temporary or reversible.
Lack of sleep may impair cognition until you can rest.
Pro Tip 1/3Slight Damage
Impair indicates a partial, rather than a complete, decline in function or condition.
Overworking might impair your health slightly, but not ruin it.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
Using 'impair' suggests that the effect or outcome is negative or undesirable.
Poor lighting can impair visibility on the road.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Permanent
The damage or weakening implied by 'impair' is often temporary or reversible.
Lack of sleep may impair cognition until you can rest.
Pro Tip 1/3Slight Damage
Impair indicates a partial, rather than a complete, decline in function or condition.
Overworking might impair your health slightly, but not ruin it.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
Using 'impair' suggests that the effect or outcome is negative or undesirable.
Poor lighting can impair visibility on the road.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Permanent
The damage or weakening implied by 'impair' is often temporary or reversible.
Lack of sleep may impair cognition until you can rest.
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Video examples
How often should you get...
It's your normal immune response to the vaccine. Some parts of the world use, instead of a shot, an inhaled vaccine that contains a weakened live virus. This is also safe for the vast majority of people. Only those with impaired immune systems would be at risk, but they're typically not given live vaccines.
Video examples
New bionics let us run,...
I returned to my sport, stronger and better. Technology had eliminated my disability, and allowed me a new climbing prowess. As a young man, I imagined a future world where technology so advanced could rid the world of disability, a world in which neural implants would allow the visually impaired to see.
Video examples
Why do we pass gas? -...
But if you feel uncomfortable, bloated or visibly distended, this may indicate impaired movement of gas along the gastrointestinal track. It's important not to just blame certain foods for gas and bloating and then avoid them. You don't want to starve the bacteria that digest these complex carbohydrates,
Video examples
Aphasia: The disorder...
Damage to Wernicke's area impairs the brain's ability to comprehend language. Aphasia is caused by injury to one or both of these specialized language areas. Fortunately, there are other areas of the brain which support these language centers and can assist with communication.
Video examples
What is leukemia? -...
and the dearth of functional white blood cells impairs the immune system, increasing the risk of infections. To restore the normal function of the blood, leukemic cells have to be eliminated. But because leukemias are not solid tumors, they can't be removed surgically.
Video examples
What hallucination...
Have you yourself experienced any of the syndromes you write about? Oliver I was afraid you would ask that. Well, yeah, a lot of them. And, actually, I'm a little visually impaired myself. I'm blind in one eye and not terribly good in the other.
Video examples
The evolution of the...
to help design biomechanical implants for the vision impaired. And in the not so distant future, the machines built with the precision and flexibilty of the human eye may even enable it to surpass its own evolution.
Video examples
Optical illusions show...
Beau He finds it. Amazing, right? So not only can we create a prosthetic for the visually impaired, but we can also investigate how people literally make sense of the world. But we can also do something else.
Video examples
How electromagnetic...
in the world as a third example let's think about the built environment using wireless technology to map a building the inside of a building for the visually impaired now in response to the
Video examples
The On, Off Switch of...
she is completely impaired no language function no memory function no responsiveness
Video examples
How often should you get...
It's your normal immune response to the vaccine. Some parts of the world use, instead of a shot, an inhaled vaccine that contains a weakened live virus. This is also safe for the vast majority of people. Only those with impaired immune systems would be at risk, but they're typically not given live vaccines.
Video examples
New bionics let us run,...
I returned to my sport, stronger and better. Technology had eliminated my disability, and allowed me a new climbing prowess. As a young man, I imagined a future world where technology so advanced could rid the world of disability, a world in which neural implants would allow the visually impaired to see.
Video examples
Why do we pass gas? -...
But if you feel uncomfortable, bloated or visibly distended, this may indicate impaired movement of gas along the gastrointestinal track. It's important not to just blame certain foods for gas and bloating and then avoid them. You don't want to starve the bacteria that digest these complex carbohydrates,
Video examples
Aphasia: The disorder...
Damage to Wernicke's area impairs the brain's ability to comprehend language. Aphasia is caused by injury to one or both of these specialized language areas. Fortunately, there are other areas of the brain which support these language centers and can assist with communication.
Video examples
What is leukemia? -...
and the dearth of functional white blood cells impairs the immune system, increasing the risk of infections. To restore the normal function of the blood, leukemic cells have to be eliminated. But because leukemias are not solid tumors, they can't be removed surgically.
Video examples
What hallucination...
Have you yourself experienced any of the syndromes you write about? Oliver I was afraid you would ask that. Well, yeah, a lot of them. And, actually, I'm a little visually impaired myself. I'm blind in one eye and not terribly good in the other.
Video examples
The evolution of the...
to help design biomechanical implants for the vision impaired. And in the not so distant future, the machines built with the precision and flexibilty of the human eye may even enable it to surpass its own evolution.
Video examples
Optical illusions show...
Beau He finds it. Amazing, right? So not only can we create a prosthetic for the visually impaired, but we can also investigate how people literally make sense of the world. But we can also do something else.
Video examples
How electromagnetic...
in the world as a third example let's think about the built environment using wireless technology to map a building the inside of a building for the visually impaired now in response to the
Video examples
The On, Off Switch of...
she is completely impaired no language function no memory function no responsiveness
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
John C. Calhoun
American Statesman
Every dollar of tax imposed on our exchanges in the shape of duties impairs, to that extent, our capacity to meet the severe competition to which we are exposed; and nothing but a system of high protective duties, long continued, can prevent us from meeting it successfully. It is that which we have to fear.
Quote examples
Zach LaVine
American Athlete
While taking sign language in high school, one of our assignments was to go out and participate in the deaf community, so I really got to know a lot of the group from that. I felt like they needed a little bit more of a voice because people treat them different just because they're hearing impaired.
Quote examples
Tracy Chapman
American Musician
You need to keep something for yourself. As a writer, I feel that even more strongly. I feel like I need to be able to freely observe the world. That's the way I like to move through the world; I don't need to be the focus of attention. If I am, it impairs my ability to write and to do what I do.
Quote examples
Forest Whitaker
American Actor
My eye? It's a genetic thing. My dad had it, and now I have it. You know, I just found out that it may be correctable a little bit, because it does impair my vision. When I look up, I lose sight in this eye. I think, maybe for other people, it informs the way they see me.
Quote examples
Leslie Nielsen
Canadian Actor
It's not really that I've been an advocate for hearing aids for a long time, it's just that I've been losing my hearing for a long time! So it's actually very important for me because I'm actually hearing impaired and I simply want to hear better!
Quote examples
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Roman Statesman
Consult your friend on all things, especially on those which respect yourself. His counsel may then be useful where your own self-love might impair your judgment.
Quote examples
Keith Richards
English Musician
When I listen to what I did under the influence - 10 years of work - I don't think it either enhanced or impaired me. It didn't have that much to do with it.
Quote examples
Ian Hacking
Canadian Philosopher
The walking wounded, impaired in life and dissected in death, were our primary clues to where and how parts of the brain work.
Quote examples
John F. Kennedy
American President
The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.
Quote examples
Jaggi Vasudev
Indian Author
Discrimination will impair democracy.
Quote examples
John C. Calhoun
American Statesman
Every dollar of tax imposed on our exchanges in the shape of duties impairs, to that extent, our capacity to meet the severe competition to which we are exposed; and nothing but a system of high protective duties, long continued, can prevent us from meeting it successfully. It is that which we have to fear.
Quote examples
Zach LaVine
American Athlete
While taking sign language in high school, one of our assignments was to go out and participate in the deaf community, so I really got to know a lot of the group from that. I felt like they needed a little bit more of a voice because people treat them different just because they're hearing impaired.
Quote examples
Tracy Chapman
American Musician
You need to keep something for yourself. As a writer, I feel that even more strongly. I feel like I need to be able to freely observe the world. That's the way I like to move through the world; I don't need to be the focus of attention. If I am, it impairs my ability to write and to do what I do.
Quote examples
Forest Whitaker
American Actor
My eye? It's a genetic thing. My dad had it, and now I have it. You know, I just found out that it may be correctable a little bit, because it does impair my vision. When I look up, I lose sight in this eye. I think, maybe for other people, it informs the way they see me.
Quote examples
Leslie Nielsen
Canadian Actor
It's not really that I've been an advocate for hearing aids for a long time, it's just that I've been losing my hearing for a long time! So it's actually very important for me because I'm actually hearing impaired and I simply want to hear better!
Quote examples
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Roman Statesman
Consult your friend on all things, especially on those which respect yourself. His counsel may then be useful where your own self-love might impair your judgment.
Quote examples
Keith Richards
English Musician
When I listen to what I did under the influence - 10 years of work - I don't think it either enhanced or impaired me. It didn't have that much to do with it.
Quote examples
Ian Hacking
Canadian Philosopher
The walking wounded, impaired in life and dissected in death, were our primary clues to where and how parts of the brain work.
Quote examples
John F. Kennedy
American President
The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.
Quote examples
Jaggi Vasudev
Indian Author
Discrimination will impair democracy.
Example 1 of 10
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