unretarded
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not delayed or hindered: "unretarded" describes something that has not been slowed down, impeded, or made late. It is the direct antonym of "retarded" in the sense of "delayed" or "slowed."
- Not mentally disabled: In older or clinical usage, "retarded" referred to intellectual disability; "unretarded" thus means not having such a condition, though this usage is now rare and potentially outdated or offensive.
Usage Examples
- (The project was not delayed or slowed down.)
- (Her mental growth was not hindered or delayed.)
- (Traffic was not slowed down or impeded.)
Advanced Usage
"unretarded growth": growth that is not stunted or slowed.
- The plants showed unretarded growth due to optimal sunlight and water. (The plants grew without any hindrance.)
"unretarded progress": progress that is continuous and unimpeded.
- The team's unretarded progress on the research led to a breakthrough. (Their work advanced without delays or obstacles.)
Variants and Related Words
- Retarded (adj): delayed or slowed; also an older term for intellectual disability (now considered offensive in many contexts).
- The retarded response time of the computer frustrated the user. (The computer was slow to react.)
- Unretardedly (adv): in a manner without delay or hindrance.
- She unretardedly completed the assignment before the deadline. (She finished without any delay.)
Synonyms
- Unimpeded: not blocked or obstructed.
- Unhindered: not held back or slowed.
- Undelayed: not made late.
Related Idioms
- Without a hitch: without any problems or delays.
- The event went off without a hitch, unretarded by technical issues. (The event proceeded smoothly and without delay.)
Notes on Usage
- The word "unretarded" is very rare in modern English. It is most commonly found in technical or formal contexts (e.g., engineering, biology, or psychology) to describe processes that are not slowed. Because "retarded" has acquired a strong pejorative connotation when used in reference to mental ability, "unretarded" should be used with caution and primarily in non-human contexts to avoid misunderstanding.