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 To be sure, despite the grief and fear that most Americans felt at the time, the attacks did not cripple the United States. — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026 Legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg explained that while Watson has hurt the Browns on the field with his play, his exorbitant contract has crippled the team's salary-cap flexibility. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 The security law has crippled Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement since its enactment in 2020, with many activists being jailed under it. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 The administration did cripple Iran's nuclear program in 2025 with bombing strikes on various facilities, but since this war began, there's been no effective action taken against its nuclear program. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cripple

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cripple

Verb

Reeger became a hero after taking out several Klingon cruisers at the Battle of Zeta Reticuli, but he was actually incapacitated at the time and took the credit for George's heroic actions, stalling Kirk Sr's career in the process.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Prosecutors offered evidence Millete asked for hexes that would injure or incapacitate his wife, NBC San Diego reported.

— Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of incapacitate

Verb

The pilots of an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 were blamed for crashing into a seawall in 2013, sending their jet cartwheeling down a runway in San Francisco, killing three people and injuring 187 others.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
The jet, traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, overshot the runway, killing five people and injuring another five.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of injure

Verb

Later’s 2026 research on Gen-Z creator ROI found that trust and authentic creator relationships matter more to conversions than simply maximizing reach, while over-scripting creators can undermine that trust.

— Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
After that report, and Warsh's tough talk on inflation late last month, most economists argue that Warsh will have to hike rates or risk undermining his credibility with financial markets.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

Before the war, Putin had spent decades disabling the channels of political opposition and of political action independent from the state.

— MICHAEL KIMMAGE, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
This has occurred as Ukrainian drone strikes have disabled specialized Russian processing units, while maritime chokepoints in the Middle East have left crucial crude supplies stranded.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of disable

Verb

People familiar with the deliberations said lawmakers worried the requirements would raise drug prices and weaken national security by revealing the precise locations where lifesaving medications are made.

— Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2026
Macron warned that the attacks would not go unanswered and accused Moscow of trying to intimidate Europeans into weakening their support for Ukraine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Among those killed and wounded were police officers attending prayers at the mosque.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Casualties tallied by the Pentagon have included 18 dead and more than 830 wounded, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

— Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of wound

Verb

Another interesting option is Yetur Gross-Matos, whose recent stint with the 49ers was marred by a knee issue.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
The latter track takes overt inspiration from Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette, as Jepsen beckons her love to engage in life’s vices with her, like marring bedsheets with fruit stains and dashing nude through the garden.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 2026.

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