challenged

challenged
a) Lacking some physical or mental attribute or skill; used after adverbs to make politically correct adjectives.

mentally challenged

b) Used following adverbs to make jocular adjectives in imitation of and mocking politically correct adjectives of this kind, as "X-challenged" = "lacking X".

vertically challenged


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  • challenged — established itself in the 1980s and 1990s as a combining element forming politically correct alternatives to potentially sensitive or offensive descriptions of people, as in cerebrally challenged (= stupid), intellectually challenged (= backward) …   Modern English usage

  • challenged — adj. 1. having doubts expressed about its truth. Syn: disputed, questioned. [WordNet 1.5] 2. handicapped or disabled; used as a euphemism, especially in combinations; as, physically challenged; mentally challenged. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • challenged — ☆ challenged [chal′ənjd] adj. disabled or handicapped in a (specified) way [physically challenged] …   English World dictionary

  • challenged —    differing from the norm in a taboo fashion    Not faced with a duel, but of those thought to be facing life at a disadvantage. The use extends to the bald, who are follicularly challenged; to the deaf, who are aurally challenged; to the blind …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • challenged — [[t]tʃæ̱lɪnʤd[/t]] ADJ: adv ADJ If you say that someone is challenged in a particular way, you mean that they have a disability in that area. Challenged is often combined with inappropriate words for humorous effect. ...terms like vertically… …   English dictionary

  • Challenged — Challenge Chal lenge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Challenged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Challenging}.] [OE. chalengen to accuse, claim, OF. chalengier, chalongier, to claim, accuse, dispute, fr. L. calumniar to attack with false accusations. See {Challenge}, n …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • challenged — chal|lenged [ tʃælındʒd ] adjective * 1. ) unable to do particular things without difficulty because of being disabled in some way: visually challenged (=unable to see well) 2. ) HUMOROUS used with other words to mean that someone lacks a… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • challenged — UK [ˈtʃælɪndʒd] / US adjective 1) unable to do particular things without difficulty because of being disabled in some way visually challenged (= unable to see well) 2) humorous used with other words to mean that someone lacks a particular quality …   English dictionary

  • challenged — /chal injd/, adj. (used as a euphemism) disabled, handicapped, or deficient (usually prec. by an adverb): physically challenged; ethically challenged. [1980 85, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • challenged — adjective 1》 euphemistic suffering from impairment or disability in a specified respect: physically challenged. 2》 humorous lacking or deficient in a specified respect: vertically challenged …   English new terms dictionary

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