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 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 The long nightmare might be over for South African producers, whose industry has been crippled for more than two years by the paralysis of a rebate program that for all intents and purposes had ceased to function. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 12 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

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 regime remains capable of suppressing any organized resistance in the country, but the growing disaffection of the elite threatens to weaken the state from within.

— Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Eisenkot's allies could also try to reverse legislation advanced by Netanyahu's government that critics say weakened Israel's democratic institutions and judicial independence.

— Itay Stern, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Israeli forces demolished two homes in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on Friday belonging to Palestinian gunmen who carried out an attack last week that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
The attacks have left at least 20 dead and 370 wounded, and have forced the closure of King Khalid International Airport for two weeks.

— Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of wound

Verb

Violence at parties and other festivities marred the Halloween weekend, as police in multiple cities across the country investigated shootings and other mayhem that left at least 124 people shot, 17 fatally, authorities said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
More than a dozen people were killed and over 90 others injured over a Halloween weekend marred by gun violence, with multiple shootings across the country upending celebrations.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 2 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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