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Handicaps

Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.

📖 Definitions of "Handicaps"

noun
  1. 1

    Something that prevents, hampers, or hinders.

    "Age is often a handicap."

  2. 2

    An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.

    "A handicap in chess often involves removal of the queen's rook."

  3. 3

    (sometimes considered offensive) The disadvantage itself, in particular physical or mental disadvantages of people.

  4. 4

    A race or similar contest in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.

verb
  1. 1

    To encumber with a handicap in any contest.

  2. 2

    (by extension) To place at disadvantage.

    "The candidate was handicapped by her lack of experience."

  3. 3

    To estimate betting odds.

    "Grandpa Andy would buy the racing form the day ahead of time so he could handicap the race before he even arrived at the track."

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Handicaps"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
hindernoun(slang, euphemistic) The buttocks.
impedimentnounA hindrance; that which impedes or obstructs progress; impedance.
hindrancenounSomething which hinders: something that holds back or causes problems with something else.
disableverb(chiefly electronics, computing) To deactivate, to make inoperational (especially of a function of an electronic or mechanical device).
incapacitateverbTo make someone or something incapable of doing something; to disable.
disablementnoun(formal) The action of disabling or the state of being disabled.
impairmentnounA disability or handicap.
deterrentnounSomething that deters.
disadvantagenounA weakness or undesirable characteristic; con; drawback.
disabilitynoun(uncountable) The state of having such a condition; the state of being disabled.
invalidnoun(dated, sometimes offensive) Any person with a disability or illness.
hampernoun(US) A wicker or plastic basket specifically for holding laundry (from clothes hamper).
barriersnounA structure that bars passage.
bottlenecksnoun(figurative) In traffic, any narrowing of the road, especially resulting in a delay.
challengesnounA confrontation; a dare.
consnoun(programming) A data structure in Lisp that is a pair of pointers, car and cdr, used mainly for lists.
constraintsnounSomething that constrains; a restriction.
createsverb(transitive) To bring into existence; (sometimes in particular:)
defectsnounA fault or malfunction.
deficienciesnoun(countable) An insufficiency, especially of something essential to health.

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