EN

Synonyms for retard

  • verb
  • noun

Most common

impede hinder obstruct inhibit slow decelerate roll back

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Impede — to keep delaying; to continue to hinder; to prevent from progressing

impede, hinder, obstruct, inhibit, detain, put off, frustrate, thwart, stay, encumber, defer, procrastinate, adjourn, interrupt, interfere, hamper, restrain, clog, prohibit

2. Slow — to decelerate; to slow down

slow, slow up informal, decelerate, slacken

3. Roll back

roll back, stay back, hang back informal

Other

check, postpone

Noun

1. Idiot — A person or being who is extremely stupid or slow to learn

idiot, imbecile, cretin, fool, jerk US, dunce, dolt, dullard, twit, jack-ass, oaf, ninny informal, simpleton informal, dummy, halfwit informal, moron slang, tard vulgar slang, nuffy slang AU, nincompoop dated

2. Delay — A retardation; a delay

delay, slow-down, retardation, hold-up

3. Half-wit

half-wit, changeling

Other

mental deficient dated, funtcuck vulgar

Antonyms

abet, impel, hasten

All antonyms of retard →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To keep delaying; to continue to hinder; to prevent from progressing.

    retard the march of an army

  2. v. 2

    To decelerate; to slow down.

  3. n. 1

    A retardation; a delay.

  4. n. 2

    A person or being who is extremely stupid or slow to learn.

Related words

Word family
retarded

Forms

Plural
retards → idiots, imbeciles, cretins, fools…
Past participle
retarded
e.g. retarded → impeded, hindered, obstructed, inhibited…

Choose the right word

or Retard?

To retard is simply to make slow by any means whatever.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • hinder If you cannot help us, don't at least hinder us.
  • inhibit He noticed that this drug seemed to inhibit bacterial growth.
  • impede He has tried to impede an official investigation.
  • obstruct Pass on, please, and do not obstruct the way.
  • slow He who is slow to promise is best in keeping them.
  • decelerate Damiano tried the decelerate the ship.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
retardfalling
hindersteady
inhibitsteady
impedesteady
obstructfalling
slowsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
oaf
4 letters
stay1, slow1, fool1, jerk1, clog1, twit, dolt, tard
5 letters
check1, idiot3, delay2, moron2, dummy2, defer2, dunce, ninny2, nuffy
6 letters
hinder2, hamper2, detain2, impede2, thwart1, cretin2
7 letters
inhibit3, adjourn2, slacken2, dullard, halfwit2
8 letters
prohibit3, postpone2, restrain2, obstruct2, imbecile3, encumber3, funtcuck
9 letters
interfere3, interrupt3, frustrate2, simpleton
10 letters
changeling, decelerate4, nincompoop3
11 letters
retardation4
13 letters
procrastinate4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (idiot3 = 3 syllables).