impair
verb
[ ɪmˈpɛː ]
• weaken or damage (something, especially a faculty or function).
• "a noisy job could permanently impair their hearing"
Similar:
damage,
harm,
diminish,
reduce,
weaken,
lessen,
decrease,
blunt,
impede,
hinder,
mar,
spoil,
disable,
undermine,
compromise,
threaten,
foul up,
put the kibosh on,
vitiate,
Origin:
Middle English enpeire, from Old French empeirier, based on late Latin pejorare (from Latin pejor ‘worse’). The current spelling is due to association with words derived from Latin beginning with im- .
