Damage or weaken (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: IMPAIR (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue Damage or weaken with 6 letters is "IMPAIR". Impair means to damage, weaken, or reduce the effectiveness of something. It is often used to describe situations where the function, quality, or condition of an object, system, or ability is negatively affected.
Why “Impair” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (6 letters) meaning “damage or weaken.” The answer, IMPAIR, fits exactly:
- Damage or weaken: Impair means to make something worse, less effective, or weaker in strength, function, or value.
- Direct match: With 6 letters, impair fits the clue’s enumeration precisely.
- Precise synonym: It directly expresses both senses given in the clue — harming (damage) or reducing effectiveness (weaken).
The word impair has long been tied to decline and loss of function:
- Origin and usage: It comes from the Latin impairare, via Old French, meaning “to make worse.”
- Common contexts: It appears in medical, legal, and general English contexts, such as “vision impairment,” “impaired judgment,” or “hearing impairment.”
- Examples: “Lack of sleep can impair memory,” or “Drinking alcohol impairs reaction times.” Both show how impair means to weaken or damage ability.
Quick crossword clues like “damage or weaken (6)” are usually straight definition-type clues:
- Synonyms like injure (6) or weaken (6) might initially come to mind, but impair captures both aspects of the clue in one neat word.
- The 6-letter count rules out longer options like diminish (8) or degrade (7).
- As a concise and versatile word used in both everyday and formal contexts, impair is the most fitting solution.
