handicap 1 of 2

noun

ˈhan-di-ˌkap How to pronounce handicap (audio)
Definition of handicapnext
1
as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success her natural shyness was not a handicap when she played chess

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2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult her uncomfortable shoes became a handicap on the walking tour of the city, as she often had to sit and rest her sore feet

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handicap

2 of 2

verb

as in to hamper
to create difficulty for the work or activity of the baseball player's small size did not handicap him in the least

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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 handicap
Noun
Even using that handicap, however, this El Niño is on track to be unprecedented. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 And trying to get my handicap score down a little bit on the golf course. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
Who else was astute enough to recognize the potential of a Sun Devil when handicapping hypothetical mascot fights? — Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 2 June 2026 The poll confirming Becerra and Hilton as the potential top two finishers is the latest wrinkle in a primary campaign that has been impossible to handicap because none of the serious candidates, originally a dozen out of 61 names on the ballot, stood out as an obvious leader. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for handicap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handicap
  1. disadvantage
  2. obstacle
  3. hamper
  4. hurdle
  5. hinder
  6. barrier
  7. impede
  8. obstruction
Noun
  • Consider these advantages and disadvantages before choosing an ARM.
    — Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Similarly, although benefits of smaller class sizes are real, at least for economically disadvantaged kids in early grades, uniform caps put high-poverty schools at a competitive disadvantage (because other working conditions are more difficult).
    — David Griffith, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of disadvantage
Noun
  • Both benefit from improved navigation, apparently able to avoid cables and other obstacles as small as 2mm in size, as well as transparent objects like mirrors or glass.
    — Dominic Preston, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The 340-pound ball is just soft enough to bounce lightly over bumpy obstacles, but its slight overpressure keeps it relatively firm.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Analysts point out that on one hand, droughts can hamper hydroelectric generation, while high temperatures raise cooling demand and strain power grids.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hamper
Noun
  • But Oxley, writing in a commentary, cautioned that there are logistical hurdles and said the value of Venezuela’s reserves may have been exaggerated under former President Hugo Chavez.
    — Collin Binkley, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Secondly, insurance and safety inspections remain critical hurdles.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurdle
Verb
  • The money hurts, sure, and the bans aren’t fun, but losing five straight first-round picks can completely hinder a franchise.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • For example, Otto’s research has shown that, in yeast, having extra copies of every gene hinders the organism’s ability to adapt to the common antifungal medication nystatin.
    — Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of hinder
Noun
  • The two sides were also in touch on monitoring a barrier lake that risks flooding and imperiling rescue workers.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The lab behind the glass barrier is a laboratory automation installation, built around a conveyor system.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of barrier
Verb
  • Cornstarch can create issues like clogging sprayers, impeding root growth, or interfering with leaf function.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But Blanche played down concerns that the erosion of judicial trust could impede his efforts to advance his agenda.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of impede
Noun
  • Investigators accused him of obstruction of justice, unlawful contracting and, among other things, claiming $127,630 in expenses linked to fictitious missions and plane tickets for nearly a dozen trips.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The prosecutor, Matthew Evans, was fired on Thursday and is now under investigation for alleged obstruction of a grand jury probe, the person said.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of obstruction

Browse Nearby Words

handholds
handicap
handicapped
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Cite this Entry

“Handicap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicap. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on handicap

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about handicap

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