CRIPPLE Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'cripple' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cripple are batter , maim , mangle , and mutilate . While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg. // crippled for life in an accident

Q: Where would 'batter' be a reasonable alternative to 'cripple'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cripple , batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate. // an old ship battered by fierce storms

Q: In what contexts can 'maim' take the place of 'cripple'?

The words maim and cripple can be used in similar contexts, but maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence. // maimed by a shark

Q: When is 'mangle' a more appropriate choice than 'cripple'?

Although the words mangle and cripple have much in common, mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds. // a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

Q: When can 'mutilate' be used instead of 'cripple'?

While the synonyms mutilate and cripple are close in meaning, mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function. // a tree mutilated by inept pruning

cripple

verb

Definition of cripple

as in to incapacitate

to cause severe or permanent injury to the car crash may have crippled two people for life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to injure

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the collision so severely crippled the ship that it had to be towed into port

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to paralyze

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move a wave of strikes crippled that nation's steel industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb cripple contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of cripple are batter, maim, mangle, and mutilate. While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg.

crippled for life in an accident

Where would batter be a reasonable alternative to cripple?

While in some cases nearly identical to cripple, batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate.

an old ship battered by fierce storms

In what contexts can maim take the place of cripple?

The words maim and cripple can be used in similar contexts, but maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence.

maimed by a shark

When is mangle a more appropriate choice than cripple?

Although the words mangle and cripple have much in common, mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds.

a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

When can mutilate be used instead of cripple?

While the synonyms mutilate and cripple are close in meaning, mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function.

a tree mutilated by inept pruning

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cripple According to official figures, even when the thermometer plummets to minus 22 °F (-30 °C), a situation that cripples most electric vehicles, the Atto 8 can still execute a 20 % to 97% charge in just 12 minutes. — New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026 He is crippled by doubt, convinced that others are gaining on him. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 In other words, having a semi-capable infrastructure or limiting what data is available to the AI could cripple your chances. — Ozan Ozerk, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Power outages crippled the Ferris wheel and melted ice cream. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cripple

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cripple

Verb

The driver, according to the crash report, suffered incapacitating injuries.

— Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Wounds suggested some victims had been shot while lying down or otherwise incapacitated.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of incapacitate

Verb

At the Supreme Court, the justices seemed divided on Tuesday in a case that could undermine the ability of many federal regulatory agencies to fine businesses that violate federal laws.

— Nina Totenberg, NPR, 10 Nov. 2026
Those reactions suggest most Republicans hold Trump solely or partly responsible for their party’s midterm losses, a perception that could undermine his influence in the GOP going forward.

— Scott Clement, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

The blasts sparked an engine-room fire that disabled the vessel, the agency said, adding that the crew was safe.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026
The officer positioned themself ahead of the vehicle and deployed tire deflation devices, disabling the vehicle’s front driver’s-side tire, according to police.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of disable

Verb

The company argues that much of the opposition is based on wrong or insufficient information, and contends that its operation wouldn’t drain resources or damage the environment, but would produce a hefty tax revenue boost for Cromwell.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Nov. 2026
The researchers found that these structures concentrated electrical activity into tiny hotspots, helping amplify the material’s ability to damage bacterial cells.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

An evening spent practicing, creating, or enjoying your own company can strengthen your life outside the group without weakening the friendship.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
The grid, however, was already weakened given a lack of maintenance and investment.

— Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Russian drones struck six areas in the Dnipropetrovsk region, wounding three people in the city of Dnipro, regional administrator Oleksandr Hanzha said.

— Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Whereas the Leo Dan original is fragile and wounded, Tacvba’s bouncy cover bursts out of the speakers with the shuffle of a ska beat and youthful Beatlesque confidence.

— Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of wound

Verb

The Chicago Cubs already faced a monumental task this offseason to build out a rotation that was marred by injuries this year and has lost multiple starters to free agency.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
The findings come as the United Nations’ climate talks get underway in Antalya, Türkiye, and during a year marred by global temperature extremes and climate disasters.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of mar

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crinkling

cripple

crippled

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“Cripple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cripple. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of cripple

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