: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: such as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
Brennan supports the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation, swelling, pain and impaired joint movement.—
Stan Bergstein
Stan BergsteinFinding jobs can be difficult for visually impaired adults. About 70 percent of them are unemployed, the National Federation of the Blind says.—Eric Aasen
Eric Aasen… some GERD patients have impaired gut motility, meaning that their stomachs empty too slowly.—Andrew Weil
Andrew Weil
b
: unable to function normally or safely (as when operating a motor vehicle) because of intoxication by alcohol or drugs
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is the safety advertisement that restaurants and bars will use to remind patrons of the dangers of driving impaired.—Mati Spencer
Mati SpencerSynonyms
- besotted
- blasted [slang]
- blind
- blitzed [slang]
- blotto [slang]
- bombed
- boozy
- canned [slang]
- cockeyed
- crocked
- drunk
- drunken
- fried
- gassed
- hammered [slang]
- high
- inebriate
- inebriated
- intoxicated
- juiced [slang]
- lit
- lit up
- loaded [slang]
- looped
- oiled [slang]
- pickled
- pie-eyed
- plastered
- potted [slang]
- ripped [slang]
- sloshed [slang]
- smashed [slang]
- sottish
- soused
- sozzled
- squiffed
- squiffy
- stewed
- stiff
- stinking [slang]
- stoned
- tanked [slang]
- tiddly [chiefly British]
- tight
- tipsy
- wasted [slang]
- wet
- wiped out [slang]
Examples of impaired in a Sentence
driving while impaired is against the law
special devices for sight-impaired visitors
Recent Examples on the Web
Residents at council meetings have ticked off their concerns: more marijuana odor, the potential for impaired driving andnormalizing cannabis use to children who see stores on their way to school.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
People around us who are the same age as we are become impaired one way or another.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Zuniga would later learn that the deputy, Chad E. Burns, was chasing a suspect who had run a red light and was suspected of being impaired.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2024
Speeding is a factor in 28 percent of commercial truck accidents, while distracted driving played a role in 16 percent of accidents, and impaired driving contributed to nine percent of accidents.
—William Mullane, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Lead consumption can affect the heart, kidneys and nerves, and exposure in children can be particularly harmful, causing impaired cognition, behavioral disorders, hearing problems and delayed puberty, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Long-term effects depend on the level of exposure and include memory problems, impaired speech, lowered IQ, fatigue, irritability, constipation, and vomiting, among others.
—Kayla Blanton, SELF, 7 Mar. 2024
Speeding, distracted and impaired driving are among the factors contributing to the jump in roadway deaths.
—Tanya Mohn, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Peripheral vascular disease: Blood flow in the legs can become impaired, resulting in pain, fatigue, and problems with wound healing.
—Kelly Wood, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2024
Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
People around us who are the same age as we are become impaired one way or another.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Zuniga would later learn that the deputy, Chad E. Burns, was chasing a suspect who had run a red light and was suspected of being impaired.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2024
Speeding is a factor in 28 percent of commercial truck accidents, while distracted driving played a role in 16 percent of accidents, and impaired driving contributed to nine percent of accidents.
—William Mullane, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Lead consumption can affect the heart, kidneys and nerves, and exposure in children can be particularly harmful, causing impaired cognition, behavioral disorders, hearing problems and delayed puberty, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
—Dakin Andone, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024
Long-term effects depend on the level of exposure and include memory problems, impaired speech, lowered IQ, fatigue, irritability, constipation, and vomiting, among others.
—Kayla Blanton, SELF, 7 Mar. 2024
Speeding, distracted and impaired driving are among the factors contributing to the jump in roadway deaths.
—Tanya Mohn, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Peripheral vascular disease: Blood flow in the legs can become impaired, resulting in pain, fatigue, and problems with wound healing.
—Kelly Wood, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impaired.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near impaired
Cite this Entry
“Impaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impaired. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impaired
adjective
im·paired
-ˈpa(ə)rd 
-ˈpe(ə)rd
1
a
: functioning in a defective or less than perfect way
impaired heart action
b
: having a defective physical or mental function
—often used in combination
a hearing-impaired person
2
: intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
driving while impaired
Medical Definition
impaired
adjective
: being in an imperfect or weakened state or condition: as
a
: diminished in function or ability : lacking full functional or structural integrity
Brennan supports the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation, swelling, pain and impaired movement.—Stan Bergstein
Stan BergsteinFinding jobs can be difficult for visually impaired adults.—Eric Aasen
Eric Aasen
b
: unable to function normally or safely (as when operating a motor vehicle) because of intoxication by alcohol or drugs
driving while impaired
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