impair

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
2. (archaic, intransitive) To grow worse; to deteriorate.

Adj

Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.

Noun

1. (obsolete) The act of impairing or deteriorating.
2. (obsolete) The fact of being impaired or having grown worse.
3. (obsolete) An impairment or deterioration.

Synonyms

damage

spoil

weaken

harm

vitiate

ruin

deteriorate

injure

debilitate

mar

disrupt

hurt

destroy

deflower

diminish

undermine

emaciated

soften

attenuate

enervate

blight

break

worsen

deface

dilapidate

disable

disfigure

mutilate

waste

damp

downcast

shatter

impairment

injury

kill

🔪🩸👤

lesion

lessen

maltreat

mischief

odd

odd number

rapture

rift

shake

🫨

sully

take away

unbrace

undo

uneven

vandalize

Translations

beeinträchtigen

beschädigen

danneggiare

détériorer

beschadigen

schädigen

deteriorar

dañar

estropear

altérer

schaden

abîmer

verderben

affaiblir

deteriorar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪmˈpɛə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: impairen

In summary

From Middle English impairen, empeiren, from Old French empeirier, from Early Medieval Latin impeiōrāre, from in- + Late Latin peiōrāre (“worsen”), from peiōrem (“worse”), comparative of malus (“bad”).