drawback

1 of 2

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 

1

: a refund of duties especially on an imported product subsequently exported or used to produce a product for export

2

: an objectionable feature : disadvantage

The plan's only drawback is its cost.

draw back

2 of 2

verb

drȯ-ˈbak 

drew back; drawn back; drawing back; draws back

intransitive verb

: to avoid an issue or commitment

Synonyms

Noun

• debit
• disadvantage
• disbenefit
• downside
• handicap
• incommodity
• liability
• minus
• negative
• strike

Examples of drawback in a Sentence

Noun

The trip sounds great, but cost is a major drawback.

this plan has only one drawback: it's unworkable

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Despite these benefits, there are some drawbacks to forming an S Corp. —Jessica Ledingham, J.d., Ll.m., Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

The drawback, of course, was Anunoby’s status as a pending unrestricted free agent. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025

Verb

But Perle was always drawn back to Washington and to any opportunity for getting her name in the papers. —Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025

Recruitment processes can be arduous and exhaustive but will always be drawn back to the one telling consideration. —Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1572, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

drawback

noun

draw·​back ˈdrȯ-ˌbak 

: an undesirable feature : disadvantage entry 1