IMPAIRED Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

impaired 1 of 2

adjective

im-ˈperd

Definition of impaired

as in drunk

being under the influence of alcohol driving while impaired is against the law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disabled

deprived of the power to perform one or more natural bodily activities special devices for sight-impaired visitors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

impaired

2 of 2

verb

past tense of impair

as in damaged

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of already impaired by a crack, the windshield shattered upon impact with the baseball

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 impaired

Adjective

After he was released from the hospital, 22-year-old Nicholas James Stedeford-Aaron was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and failure to move over for emergency vehicles with injury. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026 The voluntary intoxication loophole means a person may be too impaired to make a meaningful choice and still fall outside the law’s protections for incapacity. — Ilana Turko, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026

Verb

If refineries are forced to curtail throughput or shut down entirely due to high winds and power outages, production of refined products such as diesel and gasoline will be directly impaired. — CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 For the hearing impaired, select rooms feature visual fire alarms plus signals for telephone ringing and door knocking. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impaired

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impaired

Adjective

Prosecutors say Canadian visitor Mitchell Fairbarn took Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas habitat in a drunk prank and injured the bird; his lawyer says Fairbarn never intended harm.

— Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
This is where Krasner and Pollock lived for nearly 11 years, until Pollock killed himself and one of his passengers, Edith Metzger, while driving drunk, injuring his girlfriend, Ruth Kligman, too.

— John Yau, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of drunk

Adjective

The vehicle caught on fire in front of a local orphanage for disabled children.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Singletary has used her own life experiences including raising her kids, helping take care of her disabled brother and planning her estate to help her readers navigate their financial journeys.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of disabled

Verb

The bottom of the walls was damaged; these surfaces are not smooth and easily cleanable.

— NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
But cars have been burned, trees damaged and people hurt in communities across the Palestinian territory, with some people calling this the most dangerous season yet.

— Reuters, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of damaged

Adjective

The drunken Ken spends his time on such things as warbling a karaoke version of a 4 Non Blondes song while an unkempt Ryu is a purveyor of ramen so bad even a stray cat won’t eat it.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
The film features drunken sing-alongs and dancing with abandon in the family kitchen.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of drunken

Verb

Police said 23 people were detained overnight, while six officers and one journalist were injured.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
With both Penix and Tagovailoa injured to begin the season and Cooper Rush at quarterback, the offense scored just 16 points over the first two weeks of the season.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of injured

Adjective

Come early evening, Stinky's Fish Camp, a Santa Rosa Beach standout for Gulf-to-table cuisine, was an essential stop—locals rave about its fried oyster sandwich.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
And varieties run the gamut, from steamed to pan-fried and broth-filled.

— Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of fried

Adjective

Yet Abrams still won’t kvetch about being crammed into a tiny whale-stomach set with a camera crew, while a half-dozen crew members surrounding the practical gut, wielding a gimbal, tossed him around like a wet rag doll.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Not quite land and not quite water, too wet to yield bounty, too dangerous to navigate, too wild to fit into our concept of beauty, bogs were obstacles to human prosperity.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of wet

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impair

impaired

impairing

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Style

“Impaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impaired. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of impaired

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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