retardation
Slowing of movement
Retardation is the act of slowing or the state of being slowed.
In physics, it's negative acceleration—deceleration.
The term once appeared in medical contexts for delayed mental development, but this usage is now considered offensive and has been replaced by clinical alternatives.
The word persists in technical fields: flame retardation, signal retardation.
Reducing speed deliberately
- slowdownReduction in pace
- decelerateReduce velocity
- dragResistance through fluid
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
resistance · inertia · throttle · downshift · airbrake · parachute · coast · flaps
Delaying to later
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- latenessFailure to be punctual
- setbackReverse in progress
- hindranceBarrier to progress
impediment · stall · holdup · deferment · slowing · obstruction · bottleneck · backlog
Impairment affecting life activities
- cognitiveRelating to thinking
- intellectualConcerning thought and reason
- developmentalRelated to growth stages
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
learning · diagnosis · assessment · intervention · therapy · support · accommodation · milestone
Forcible prevention or concealment
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- restraintControl over impulses
- preventionStopping something before occurring
- curbingLimiting or restraining
dampening · interference · attenuation · modulation · regulation · reduction · limitation · checking
Gradual tempo decrease
- rallentandoGradual tempo reduction
- fermataSustained note symbol
- rubatoElastic musical timing
- tempoRate of musical performance
adagio · largo · lento · morendo · slackening · broadening
Insulting group label
- pejorativeTerm expressing disapproval
- outdatedNo longer in use
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
- ableismBias against disabled individuals
stigma · discrimination · insensitive · taboo · disparagement · insult · prejudice · disrespect
braking
Reducing speed deliberately
- slowdownReduction in pace
- decelerateReduce velocity
- dragResistance through fluid
friction · resistance · inertia · throttle · downshift · airbrake · parachute · coast · flaps · retrofire
postponement
Delaying to later
hindrance · impediment · stall · holdup · deferment · slowing · obstruction · bottleneck · backlog · gridlock
disability
Impairment affecting life activities
- cognitiveRelating to thinking
- intellectualConcerning thought and reason
- developmentalRelated to growth stages
neurological · learning · diagnosis · assessment · intervention · therapy · support · accommodation · milestone · evaluation
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- restraintControl over impulses
- preventionStopping something before occurring
curbing · dampening · interference · attenuation · modulation · regulation · reduction · limitation · checking · arresting
ritardando
Gradual tempo decrease
- rallentandoGradual tempo reduction
- fermataSustained note symbol
- rubatoElastic musical timing
tempo · adagio · largo · lento · morendo · slackening · broadening
slur
Insulting group label
- pejorativeTerm expressing disapproval
- outdatedNo longer in use
- derogatoryExpressing criticism or disrespect
ableism · stigma · discrimination · insensitive · taboo · disparagement · insult · prejudice · disrespect · mockery
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
- brakingdisc brake, drum brake, brake pad, brake rotor, brake drum
- slow growthstagnation, stunting, crawling, delayed development, creeping
- ballisticsballistics, bullet, bullet drop, cartridge, trajectory
- optical mineralogythin section, extinction, polarized light, isotropic, anisotropic
- crystal propertieshardness, luster, cleavage, fracture, streak
retardationacceleration
Rate velocity changes
quickening · speeding up · hastening · expediting · propulsion
retardationadvancement
Forward movement or promotion
acceleration · progress · furtherance · facilitation · promotion
retardationprecocity
Premature mental development
giftedness · precociousness · early development · prodigiousness · advancement
- mental retardationImpaired cognitive development