as in harm
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1
as in incapacitating
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the car crash may have crippled two people for life
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the collision so severely crippled the ship that it had to be towed into port
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3
as in paralyzing
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a wave of strikes crippled that nation's steel industry
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Recent Examples of crippling
Brian Bennett, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Ben Tarnoff, Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
Eden outlined how, by crippling universities over charges of antisemitism, McMahon could also achieve larger goals.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Confidence in Israel’s ability to seriously damage Iran’s nuclear program has slipped from 62% to 48%; expectations of crippling its ballistic missile arsenal have dropped from 73% to 57%.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
All three largely believe the war caused the high gas and grocery prices that are crippling the nation’s economy.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
This creates permanent skin damage around the well, fundamentally destroying its natural permeability and crippling its long-term productivity.
—Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Answers varied in emphasizing the elimination of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, crippling its ability to project force, or toppling the regime altogether.
—Nik Popli, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
So, in June last year, the president seized the moment by crippling Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
So if half that tariff money goes away, that will mean a larger, but not crippling federal deficit.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
The 12-day barrage came on the back of a series of setbacks for Iran’s leaders, including the crippling of its regional allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
But, in a separate incident reported by Reuters, it was revealed that Musk did cut service in eastern Ukraine around the same time, crippling a planned Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson.
—Ben Tarnoff, Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
Eden outlined how, by crippling universities over charges of antisemitism, McMahon could also achieve larger goals.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Confidence in Israel’s ability to seriously damage Iran’s nuclear program has slipped from 62% to 48%; expectations of crippling its ballistic missile arsenal have dropped from 73% to 57%.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
All three largely believe the war caused the high gas and grocery prices that are crippling the nation’s economy.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
This creates permanent skin damage around the well, fundamentally destroying its natural permeability and crippling its long-term productivity.
—Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Answers varied in emphasizing the elimination of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, crippling its ability to project force, or toppling the regime altogether.
—Nik Popli, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
So, in June last year, the president seized the moment by crippling Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
So if half that tariff money goes away, that will mean a larger, but not crippling federal deficit.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crippling
Noun
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Doe alleges the school’s failure to act caused long-term emotional and psychological harm that continues today.—
Lexi Nicklaus,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The guidance states that potential harms in this age group, including false positives, psychological distress, overdiagnosis, overtreatment and radiation exposure, may outweigh the uncertain benefits of screening.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One of four passengers in Bain’s car, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, suffered incapacitating injuries and was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial from the scene, according to the report.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
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The defendant at the trial, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, argued that its policy covered only losses resulting from a medically verified, incapacitating illness.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Besides their obvious beauty, wicker baskets are superior for storage (especially laundry), providing excellent ventilation that prevents mold and mildew from damaging your linens.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
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Baking soda has a mild, yet abrasive texture that can lift out stains causing your tiles to look dull without damaging the surface.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Dawood said she's gone through paralyzing panic attacks and intense therapy.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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According to some experts, this paralyzing fear and desperation are factors that scammers exploit to put their criminal schemes into action.—
Albinson Linares,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Morens faces charges of conspiracy against the United States; destruction, alteration or falsification of records in federal investigations; concealment, removal or mutilation of records; and aiding and abetting, according to a Justice Department news release.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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The footage then cuts to the character in various stages of mutilation, pre- and post a violent attack.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After disabling Gemini and losing all those features, Gmail offers you a second chance with a pop-up nag that reenables all those features, including Gemini.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
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In addition to severe, disabling headache pain, a migraine can also trigger processes that affect the rest of your body and interfere with normal sensory function.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ancient lava fields can be seen as dark lunar maria marring the silvery lunar surface, which themselves are threaded with bright streaks of reflective debris strewn across the surface by violent asteroid strikes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While the court technically kept Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act intact, the ruling contributes to a series of decisions undermining the landmark 1965 law that protected racial minorities' collective voting power.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
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But more than half fear that politicization and confusion are undermining vaccine access.—
Michael C. Burgess,
STAT,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crippling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crippling. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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