English Dictionary

DRAWBACK

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does drawback mean? 

DRAWBACK (noun)
  The noun DRAWBACK has 1 sense:

1. the quality of being a hindranceplay

  Familiarity information: DRAWBACK used as a noun is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


DRAWBACK (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being a hindrance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

he pointed out all the drawbacks to my plan

Hypernyms ("drawback" is a kind of...):

disadvantage (the quality of having an inferior or less favorable position)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "drawback"):

catch; gimmick (a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident)


 Context examples 


That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It's one of the drawbacks of our line of business.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Their own inclinations ascertained, there were no difficulties behind, no drawback of poverty or parent.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It seems to me to have only one drawback, Hopkins, and that is that it is intrinsically impossible.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The drawbacks, on the other hand, are clear.

(Can Chocolate Really Be Good for You?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

But it can also have drawbacks.

(Mammography, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

Each treatment has benefits and drawbacks.

(Kidney Failure, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

However, they admitted the process has the drawback that it can lead to significant loss of nutrients like potassium, molybdenum (an essential mineral) and vitamins.

(Parboiling husked rice reduces arsenic content, SciDev.Net)

But they had one serious drawback: They were not rechargeable.

(New, high-energy rechargeable batteries, NSF)

She contemplated it, however, in spite of this drawback, with much emotion, and, but for a yet stronger interest, would have left it unwillingly.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." (English proverb)

"You can't find stupidity in the forest." (Bulgarian proverb)

"Birds of a feather flock together." (Arabic proverb)

"Just toss it in my hat and I'll sort it to-morrow." (Dutch proverb)



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