Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

disable

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of disable

1 to cause severe or permanent injury to
  • disabled by an injury
Synonyms of disable

cripple, incapacitate, lame, maim, mutilate
Words Related to disable

dismember, hamstring, hobble, paralyze

batter, bruise, bung up, mangle, maul, rough (up)

gore, lacerate, wing, wound

disfigure, scar

kneecap

break, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure

bash, beat, belt, bludgeon, buffet, drub, hammer, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lick, paste, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, thump

bang, box, hit, punch, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thrash, thwack, whack

flog, lash, wallop, whip

kill, murder

torment, torture
Near Antonyms of disable

cure, heal, rehabilitate, remedy

doctor, fix, mend, patch

rejuvenate, renew, repair, restore
2 to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
  • disabled the controls for unauthorized users
Synonyms of disable

cripple, hamstring, immobilize, incapacitate, paralyze, prostrate
Words Related to disable

attenuate, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken

hobble, lame

maim, mutilate

knock out
Near Antonyms of disable

energize, galvanize, invigorate, vitalize

fortify, strengthen

empower

freshen, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, restore, revitalize, revive

Synonym Discussion of disable

weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap, cripple, disable mean to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor. weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.
    • a disease that weakens the body's defenses
enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.
    • enfeebled by starvation
debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.
    • the debilitating effects of surgery
undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.
    • a poor diet undermines your health
    • drugs had sapped his ability to think
cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.
    • crippled by arthritis
disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.
    • disabled by an injury sustained at work

Learn More about disable

  1. See words that rhyme with disable Dictionary: Definition of disable Medical Dictionary: Definition of disable Spanish Central: Translation of disable Nglish: Translation of disable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of disable for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up disable? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games