impair

1
[ im-pair ]
/ ɪmˈpɛər /

verb (used with object)

to make or cause to become worse; diminish in ability, value, excellence, etc.; weaken or damage: to impair one's health; to impair negotiations.

verb (used without object)

to grow or become worse; lessen.

noun

Archaic. impairment.

Origin of impair

1
1250–1300; Middle English empairen, empeiren to make worse < Middle French empeirer, equivalent to em- im-1 + peirer to make worse < Late Latin pējōrāre, equivalent to Latin pējōr-, stem of pējor worse + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix; cf. pejorative

SYNONYMS FOR impair

1 See injure.

ANTONYMS FOR impair

1 repair.

OTHER WORDS FROM impair

Words nearby impair

impacter, impactful, impaction, impactite, impactive, impair, impaired, impairment, impala, impale, impalpable

Words related to impairing

reduce, mar, decrease, worsen, debilitate, lessen, damage, hurt, tarnish, prejudice, spoil, destroy, diminish, blunt, undermine, weaken, ding, invalidate, cheapen, blemish

Example sentences from the Web for impairing

British Dictionary definitions for impairing

impair
/ (ɪmˈpɛə) /

verb

(tr) to reduce or weaken in strength, quality, etc his hearing was impaired by an accident

Derived forms of impair

impairable, adjective impairer, noun impairment, noun

Word Origin for impair

C14: from Old French empeirer to make worse, from Late Latin pējorāre, from Latin pejor worse; see pejorative