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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

impair

/ɪmˈpɛɹ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does impair mean?

verb

  1. To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
More meanings (5)

verb

  1. (archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate.

adjective

  1. (obsolete) 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.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ɪmˈpɛɹ/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The States are likewise prohibited from making laws which may have a tendency to impair the obligations of contracts.
Alexis de TocquevilleDemocracy in America — Volume 1Translated by Henry ReeveProject Gutenberg ebook #815
This may have baffled some hopes, and in some degree qualified his happiness, but did not impair his virtues.
William Gilmore SimmsThe Life of Francis MarionProject Gutenberg ebook #843
More book examples (3)
To see poisonous vines, foretells that you will be the victim of a plausible scheme and you will impair your health.
Gustavus Hindman MillerTen Thousand Dreams Interpreted; Or, What's in a Dream A Scientific and Practical ExpositionProject Gutenberg ebook #926
Dark days and bright days, sickness and health, fatigue and rest seem to impair his courage, hope and general cheerfulness of mood but little.
Abraham MyersonThe Foundations of PersonalityProject Gutenberg ebook #1575
When, in the end, these chords become too close, they will have to go; they would impair the symmetry of the work.
Jean-Henri FabreThe Life of the SpiderTranslated by Alexander Teixeira de MattosProject Gutenberg ebook #1887