debilitating
adjective
de·bil·i·tat·ing
di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtā-tiŋ 
dē-
: causing serious impairment of strength or ability to function
debilitating pain
a debilitating fear of public speaking
a debilitating illness
Thirty years have passed since a vaccine wiped out polio, but some of those who conquered the debilitating disease as children are now experiencing symptoms that seem all too familiar.—
Fay Knicely
Fay KnicelySeveral of these drugs are now in clinical testing to determine whether they can reduce or eliminate the debilitating nausea suffered by cancer patients on chemotherapy.—Ron Cowen
Ron Cowen
debilitatingly
adverb
Debilitatingly asthmatic as a child, Scarfe developed his talent while amusing himself and acquired the cynicism for authority that empowers his … drawings and sculpture during many frightening encounters with medical incompetence.
—Ray Olson
Ray Olson
Did you know?
The verb debilitate (and its adjective form debilitating) comes from the Latin word for "weak," debilis. Often used of disease—as in, "the patient was debilitated"—it can also suggest something that strikes like a disease or illness, "the actor was debilitated by stage fright." In sum, the word suggests a temporary impairment or a condition of weakness and helplessness.
Examples of debilitating in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Depression is a debilitating condition that pervades all aspects of a person’s life.
—New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2025
Related article Most space travelers face the same debilitating ailment.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
Perhaps even more debilitating is the domino effect on the next day’s bullpen.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Worry is such a debilitating thing that robs you of your energy and distracts you of your concentration.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
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New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2025
Related article Most space travelers face the same debilitating ailment.
—Jen Christensen, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
Perhaps even more debilitating is the domino effect on the next day’s bullpen.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Worry is such a debilitating thing that robs you of your energy and distracts you of your concentration.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debilitating
Cite this Entry
“Debilitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debilitating. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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