Impairment — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /im-ˈper-mənt/ im·pair·ment

Meaning & Definition of Impairment

Impairment (noun)

  1. the act of impairing something or the state or condition of being impaired, diminishment or loss of function or ability

Impairment (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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."

    similar: defacement, disability, disablement, disfigurement, affliction, damage, detriment, harm, hurt, injury, lesion, rupture, strain, abrasion, chafe, scrape, scratch, boo-boo, bruise, contusion, swelling, wound, bump, concussion, cut, gash, laceration, burn, scald, scar, scathe, sear
    opposite: healing, recovery, cure, fix, remedy

Related Entry: Impair (verb)

Impair is a different word from Impairment. The synonyms below are for impair, not for impairment.

  1. to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of

    "already impaired by a crack, the windshield shattered upon impact with the baseball"

    similar: blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cripple, cross (up), damage, deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate
    related: deteriorate, enervate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken, erode, scour, wash out, wear (away), blight, tarnish, dent, ding, dint, botch, gum (up), queer, lacerate, wound, disable, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, torment, torture, annihilate, bang up, bash, batter, clobber, crush, dash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, scourge, shatter, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wreck
    opposite: doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp
    near: cure, heal, help, rectify, rehabilitate, remedy, edit, remodel, revise, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Impairment

The most common words with a similar meaning to Impairment:

defacement, disability, disablement, disfigurement, affliction, damage, detriment, harm, hurt, injury, lesion, rupture, strain, abrasion, chafe, scrape, scratch, boo-boo, bruise, contusion, swelling, wound, bump, concussion, cut, gash, laceration, burn, scald, scar, scathe, sear

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Impairment

Words with the opposite meaning of Impairment:

healing, recovery, cure, fix, remedy

Word Forms of Impairment

Inflections: impairments

Origin & Etymology of Impairment

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Impairment

What does "Impairment" mean?

"Impairment" means the act of impairing something or the state or condition of being impaired, diminishment or loss of function or ability. As a noun, it is defined as: the act of impairing something or the state or condition of being impaired, diminishment or loss of function or ability.

What is another word for "Impairment"?

Other words for "Impairment" include defacement, disability, disablement, disfigurement, affliction, damage, detriment and harm. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Impairment" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Impairment"?

There are 32 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Impairment". Common alternatives include defacement, disability, disablement, disfigurement, affliction, damage, detriment, harm, hurt and injury.

What is the opposite of "Impairment"?

Antonyms of "Impairment" include healing, recovery, cure, fix and remedy.

How do you use "Impairment" in a sentence?

Examples of "Impairment" in a sentence: "Her mother had a hearing impairment that had become worse with age.".

Is "Impairment" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Impairment" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Impairment"?

"Impairment" is pronounced /im-ˈper-mənt/ and divided into syllables as im·pair·ment.

What is the origin of the word "Impairment"?

First known use: 14th century.