retard

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "retard" is not correct or acceptable for use in written English.
It is highly offensive and can be considered hate speech in many contexts, as it is considered to be derogatory language against those with mental disabilities. Instead of using the word "retard," you should use language that is more inclusive and respectful of all people. For example, "The student was having difficulty understanding the material, so the teacher tried to explain it in simpler terms."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I would have remembered such a massive retard".

The Guardian - Sport

I would never do that, but sometimes saying retard is funny, it's a release".

The Guardian - Music

In both countries the rise of satellite TV has probably slowed as a result, although it has not stopped.It is one thing to retard the growth of pay-TV, quite another to reverse it.

The Economist

Indeed, efforts to employ everyone by reducing their real wage will retard cost declines in industries, like health care or education, that should be subject to rapid displacement of workers by capital, thereby leaving real wages for workers not immediately at risk of displacement lower than they could be.

The Economist

His classmates call him "retard", to which he answers over and over: "Mind over matter.

The Economist

America and its allies are learning to deliver help directly through provincial reconstruction teams, but these efforts by foreign armies are no substitute for, and often retard, the growth of a national administration.

The Economist

ON TUESDAY my colleague wrote a post criticising the "Boycott, Divest, Sanction" (BDS) movement on American campuses for making unrealistic demands of Israel that can only lead to more rancour and retard a peaceful solution.

The Economist

Remoteness from economic centres and hot, disease-prone conditions could retard development.Even as these debates continued, the world shifted beneath economists' feet as growth in the developing world shot up from the end of the 1990s.

The Economist

Indeed, these latest killings did not so much prompt soulsearching among Burmans as a tirade of bigotry against the country's Rohingya minority.There were also fears that the violence could spill over into other areas, and even that it might retard progress on reform in the rest of the country.

The Economist

Most other economists have since regarded it as essential in thinking clearly about whether regional trade-deals advance or retard economic well-being.

The Economist

The results sometimes restate the obvious, but just as often they are new and provocative.Most important, he shows unambiguously what observers of elections in poor countries have long suspected: that on their own, unless they are held in the context of a functioning democracy, elections can retard rather than advance a country's progress.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the word "retard" in any context due to its offensive and harmful nature. Choose respectful and accurate alternatives.

Common error

Never use the word "retard" as an insult or descriptor for someone's intelligence. This is considered hate speech and is unacceptable.

Linguistic Context

The word "retard" functions as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it was historically used (now considered offensive) to refer to a person with intellectual disabilities. As a verb, it means to delay or slow down something. Ludwig AI advises against its usage due to its offensive nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "retard", while historically used to describe both the act of slowing down and individuals with intellectual disabilities, is now widely considered offensive and harmful. Ludwig AI identifies it as inappropriate for use. Its presence in contexts like News & Media and Encyclopedias primarily serves to illustrate its problematic usage rather than to endorse it. It's crucial to opt for respectful and accurate alternatives like "slow down" or "person with intellectual disabilities" to ensure inclusive and considerate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slow down

Emphasizes the action of reducing speed, either literally or figuratively.

hinder progress

Focuses on obstructing or impeding advancement.

delay

Highlights the act of postponing or causing something to happen later than expected.

impede

Similar to hinder, but often suggests a more significant obstacle.

obstruct

Implies creating a barrier or blockage.

intellectually disabled

A respectful and accurate term for describing a person with cognitive impairments.

learning difficulties

Focuses on the challenges someone faces in acquiring knowledge or skills.

cognitive impairment

A more clinical term for describing limitations in mental processes.

developmental delay

Describes a situation where a child is slower to reach developmental milestones.

mental slowness

Directly refers to a slower pace of mental processing.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "retard" when referring to someone with intellectual disabilities?

Use respectful terms such as "person with intellectual disabilities" or "person with cognitive impairments".

Is it ever appropriate to use the word "retard"?

No, the word "retard" is generally considered offensive and should be avoided in all contexts.

What's a more appropriate way to say something is slowing down or being delayed instead of saying it's being "retarded"?

Use alternatives like "slowed down", "delayed", or "hindered".

Why is the word "retard" considered offensive?

The word "retard" has historically been used to demean and stigmatize individuals with intellectual disabilities, making it a derogatory and hurtful term.