impair
Translation
to damage, to weaken, to harm
Examples
Lack of sleep can impair your judgement.
Lack of sleep can impair your judgment.
His hearing was impaired by the loud noise.
His hearing was impaired by the loud noise.
Grammar Patterns
to impair ((sth.)) to damage or weaken something Lack of sleep can impair your judgment.
Similar Words
Synonyms: damage, harm, weaken, undermine; Antonyms: improve, enhance
Etymology
From Old French 'empeirier', meaning 'to make worse', from 'em-' (in) + Latin 'peior' (worse).
Memory Tips
Think of 'making something worse'. The prefix 'im-' can suggest negation or worsening. It puts something out of a good 'pair' or condition.