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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 14 June 2026
The Ukrainian military sank several Russian warships in the Black Sea and at their Crimean bases, crippling Moscow’s naval capability and forcing it to redeploy its fleet to Novorossiysk.
—ABC News, 11 June 2026
However, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller — who lost the recent Republican primary to a candidate backed by Abbott — said the federal response will take too long and risks crippling the cattle industry.
—Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Anxiety over ChatGPT and other emerging technology helped derail talks with both unions and the AMPTP in 2023, leading to crippling dual strikes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 May 2026
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
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
The fall broke both his legs, crippling him.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 14 June 2026
The Ukrainian military sank several Russian warships in the Black Sea and at their Crimean bases, crippling Moscow’s naval capability and forcing it to redeploy its fleet to Novorossiysk.
—ABC News, 11 June 2026
However, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller — who lost the recent Republican primary to a candidate backed by Abbott — said the federal response will take too long and risks crippling the cattle industry.
—Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Anxiety over ChatGPT and other emerging technology helped derail talks with both unions and the AMPTP in 2023, leading to crippling dual strikes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crippling
Noun
-
Their charges reportedly include assaulting a police officer, disorderly behavior in a police station, disorderly behavior, resisting arrest, obscene language, escape from lawful custody, causing dangerous harm and two counts of damage and obstruction.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
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And as hundreds of pending lawsuits accuse social platforms of failing to protect children from mental health harms and online predators, companies have faced increasing pressure to age-gate their products even in places that haven’t yet implemented any age assurance law.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Tabitha grabs one of the weird, spooky totem things and drives it through the chest of the scarecrow monster attacking Donna, killing it – or at least incapacitating it – and the scarecrows retreat.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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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
Verb
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Overnight, Russian forces launched hundreds of missiles and drones across Ukraine, killing at least 14 people and damaging energy infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
19 Aug. 2025
-
When making safety and preparedness decisions, do not focus on the exact forecast track since hazards such as flooding rain, damaging wind gusts, storm surge, and tornadoes extend well away from the center of the storm.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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America has confronted this paralyzing supply deficit before.—
Jonathan Tower,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2026
-
To him, these alliances resemble the tiny Lilliputians trying to bind the giant Gulliver with paralyzing strings.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Bolton, 67, was charged with felony mutilation of election material and disregarding the election code, a misdemeanor, on May 19, and appeared today in Lake County Court in Waukegan.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
The report contains nearly 300 pages documenting mass rape, tortured families, mutilation of bodies and murder.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Blessing later ran into a wall, disabling the vehicle.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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According to police, Cope refused to stop and continued fleeing after troopers attempted a PIT maneuver, disabling one state police patrol vehicle.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Verb
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An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Any postponement or significant change risks undermining those decisions and could slow progress overall.—
Tasmin Lockwood,
CNBC,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Full renminbi internationalization requires greater capital account openness, financial liberalization, and less government intervention in monetary policy—steps that would risk undermining the Communist Party’s control over the economy.—
ELIZABETH ECONOMY,
Foreign Affairs,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crippling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crippling. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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