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

Relevance

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 Russia has been doing this since the start of the war, terrorizing Ukrainian cities with aerial assaults that have killed thousands of civilians and crippled much of the country’s energy grid for months on end. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 Washington denounces Cuba’s overseas medical missions as exploitative and presses allies to drop them, but Calabria’s governor says losing the doctors would cripple care and vows to keep them. — Paolo Santalucia, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Data loss via staff cuts Widespread staff cuts starting in early 2025 across the Department of Health and Human Services, which houses the CDC, crippled much of the agency’s data collection and dissemination. — John Kubale, The Conversation, 8 July 2026 The Senate, Electoral College and other compromises enabled the few to overrule the many in ways that still cripple national action. — Max Taves, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cripple

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cripple

Verb

Furthermore, the Iranians are far from disabled, disarmed and incapacitated.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
According to the complaint, Willis has been left completely incapacitated since a brief stint at Summit Malibu in early 2024, unable to move or communicate beyond occasionally opening her eyes and sometimes grunting.

— Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026

Definition of incapacitate

Verb

Silva and his mother did not have easy lives, even before he was paralyzed.

— Trevor Morgan, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
In June of this year, a northern Colorado city agreed to pay $675,000 to settle a lawsuit after police shot and paralyzed Herkimer, a healthy 14-month-old family dog who was later euthanized because of his injuries.

— Vanessa Shakib, Oc Register, 23 July 2026

Definition of paralyze

Verb

Ho also said Celeste bore two significant penetrating injuries — one wound to her abdomen, which passed through the diaphragm and injured the liver, and the other penetrated the left side of her chest, damaging ribs and entered the chest cavity.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 25 July 2026
Seven neighbors whose property was damaged by the explosion also are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

State leaders have introduced Assembly Bill 1383, which undermines crucial PEPRA guardrails, granting an unfunded pension benefit increase to first responders by reducing their retirement age.

— Zachary Christensen, Oc Register, 24 July 2026
For American tech companies, free and comparable Chinese models like K3 threaten to undermine their own products.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

In the film, Robin Hood (Jackman), who feels cursed after leading a life of violent crime, is gravely wounded in a battle and seeks a chance at salvation while under the care of the mysterious Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer).

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The Pentagon also lists 420 troops as wounded in action during Operation Epic Fury.

— Chris Kenning, USA Today, 26 July 2026

Definition of wound

Verb

To prevent a similar war from happening again, Menelaus scarred her face, permanently marring her famous beauty.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
In an address from the White House tonight, the president sought to reveal proof for his baseless assertions of a 2020 vote marred by fraud.

— Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of mar

Browse Nearby Words

crinkling

cripple

crippled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cripple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cripple. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cripple

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on cripple

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

sultry

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes