impair
Lessen the effectiveness
To impair something is to weaken or damage it, making it function less effectively than before.
The word typically applies to abilities, faculties, or systems: The medication may impair your judgment.
Impaired often describes diminished capacity—hearing-impaired, visually impaired—or intoxication: driving while impaired.
To make weak
- enfeebleMake feeble or frail
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- enervateTo drain of strength
exhaust · drain · devitalize · diminish · lessen · reduce · compromise · cripple
Injury or damage
spoil · blemish · disfigure · deface · deteriorate · worsen · corrupt · compromise
Block or hinder passage
- hamperObstruct or clothes basket
- inhibitTo restrain or hinder
- impedeTo obstruct movement
- blockSolid mass, or impede
interfere · encumber · restrain · constrain · restrict · limit · curtail · stymie
Abnormal or unhealthy operation
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- deficitAmount still owed
- deficiencyLack of something needed
- disorderAbsence of organization
syndrome · neuropathy · vision · hearing · cognitive · motor · sensory · speech
Substance-induced mental impairment
- DUIImpaired operating charge
- DWIIntoxicated driving charge
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
- breathalyzerAlcohol detection device
driving · judgment · capacity · competence · fitness · liability · negligence · recklessness
debilitate
To make weak
enervate · exhaust · drain · devitalize · diminish · lessen · reduce · compromise · cripple · handicap
harm
Injury or damage
mar · spoil · blemish · disfigure · deface · deteriorate · worsen · corrupt · compromise · undercut
obstruct
Block or hinder passage
block · interfere · encumber · restrain · constrain · restrict · limit · curtail · stymie · thwart
dysfunction
Abnormal or unhealthy operation
- disabilityImpairment affecting life activities
- deficitAmount still owed
- deficiencyLack of something needed
disorder · syndrome · neuropathy · vision · hearing · cognitive · motor · sensory · speech · memory
intoxication
Substance-induced mental impairment
breathalyzer · driving · judgment · capacity · competence · fitness · liability · negligence · recklessness
- cognitive impairmentDiminished intellectual function
- hearing impairedReduced auditory function
- visually impairedHaving diminished sight
- vision impairedReduced ability to see
- visual impairmentUncorrectable seeing deficit
- impaired drivingOperating vehicle while intoxicated