retarded

comparative more retarded · superlative most retarded

1. Delayed; delayed in development, hindered; impeded.First known use 17th c.

   This kind of plant is usually of a retarded growth.

   2 more examples

   The last zone, lying beyond the Ch‘ang-pai mountains, was in special isolation and culturally as retarded as regions much farther north.

   1971, William Watson, Cultural Frontiers in Ancient East Asia, Edinburgh University Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 128

   HGH, which was originally developed to assist children with retarded growth, is believed to be especially popular with sprinters.

   2004 August 8, Duncan Mackay, The Observer

2. datedoffensivesometimeshuman sciencesHaving mental retardation; mentally deficient or underdeveloped.

   Experts in the field say there are now at least 200,000 retarded people over 60 in the United States.

   1990 October 28, Tamar Lewin, “As the Retarded Live Longer, Anxiety Grips Aging Parents”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 May 2015, U.S.

   5 more examples

   One day the order of things begins to unravel. First, the doctor, on horseback, is tripped up by an invisible wire and his injuries put him in the hospital for months. Then several children, including the son of the Baron and the retarded child of the doctor’s mistress, are severely beaten. Later, the Baron’s barn is set on fire.

   2009 May 25, Peter Brunette, “Cannes winner "White Ribbon" seriously stunning”, in Reuters, archived from the original on 29 Apr 2023

   Shriver started the Special Olympics Games in 1968 to foster fitness and self-esteem for those with mental retardation and advocated in Washington for her cause well into her eighties. The event has grown to include 190 nations. Her concern for the mentally handicapped was attributed to her relationship with older sister Rosemary, who was said to have been mildly retarded and spent the majority of her life in a long-term care facility after a lobotomy.

   2009 August 11, “Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, dead at 88”, in France 24, archived from the original on 12 Jun 2010

   As one of hundreds of examples, here is how Emily and Charles work to stimulate their profoundly retarded newborn, and the kind of detail Solomon is consistently able to draw from his subjects:[…]

   2012 November 21, Lisa Zeidner, “Book review: ‘Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity’ by Andrew Solomon”, in The Washington Post, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2012, Opinions

   Me and my friends used to feed LSD to this little retarded girl in our neighborhood and we'd lock arms around her and go "nightmare! Nightmare! Nightmare! Nightmare! Nightmare! Nightmare! Nightmare! Nightmare!" It actually cured her retardation.

   2014, The Eric Andre Show, season 3, episode 6, Eric Andre (actor)

   Gavali added that he is going to meet the state home minister by next week to brief him about the situation. “Giving drugs to children can cause long term harm and they can also become retarded. Such begging gangs are also seen at Kharghar, Belapur highway junction, and at Nerul LP, " he said.

   2022 May 1, Sandeep Raghavan, quoting Vishnu Gavali, “Navi Mumbai: Kids forced to beg are drugged, say activists”, in The Times of India, archived from the original on 01 May 2022

   Synonyms: mentally retarded

3. datedoffensivesometimeshuman sciencesSpecifically, having an IQ below 70.First known use 19th c.
4. colloquialderogatoryoffensiveExtremely stupid; obtuseFirst known use 20th c.

   Looking at Jack, Gabbie said, "What?" "That's the Troll Bridge." She groaned at the pun. "That's retarded."

   1988, Raymond E Feist, Faerie Tale

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   I've got a terrific sign in front of my house that keeps intruders out: Retarded Pit Bull High on Angel Dust. No one's come over the wall yet. Except a couple of retarded guys who were high on angel dust.

   1997, George Carlin, “SIGNS”, in Brain Droppings, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 66

   I hope that my kids are too retarded to get into drugs. Like, I hope my first-born son tries to smoke a bowl in the shower.

   2018 August 22, 01:20 from the start, in CS:GO WHILE HIGH (Comedy, Gaming), spoken by RaccoonEggs, YouTube

   If it sounds like a bad script that a retarded child would write, it’s because it is. Yet, anti-Zionists will aggressively explain to you why this insanity makes perfect sense.

   2021 October 5, “Why anti-Zionism is a product of antisemitism.”, in The Times of Israel, archived from the original on 05 Oct 2021

5. natural sciencesDesignating a parameter of an electromagnetic field which is adjusted to account for the finite speed of radiation.First known use 20th c.

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of retard

   We know cases where obscurity of style has retarded the recognition of really great writers—but obscurity of style is not a virtue, and they were great in spite of it.

   1902, Arthur Conan Doyle, “Author's Preface”, in The Complete Napoleonic Stories, →OCLC, page vi