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Impair vs Impel - What's the difference?

impair | impel |

In lang=en terms the difference between impair and impel

is that impair is to weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on while impel is to drive forward; to propel an object.

As verbs the difference between impair and impel

is that impair is to weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on while impel is to urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation (contrast with propel, to compel or drive extrinsically).

As an adjective impair

is (obsolete) not fit or appropriate.

impair

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (qualifier)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
  • (archaic) To grow worse; to deteriorate.
  • (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Not fit or appropriate.
  • impel

    English

    Verb

    (impell)
  • To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation (contrast with propel, to compel or drive extrinsically).
  • * , title=The Mirror and the Lamp
  • , chapter=2 citation , passage=She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.}}
  • To drive forward; to propel an object.
  • Synonyms

    * (to drive forward) propel

    Antonyms

    * expel

    References

    * *