1
as in crippling
to cause severe or permanent injury to
a promising athlete who was severely disabled in a plane crash
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paralyzing
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
disabled the controls for unauthorized users
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of disabling
Youthful pond hockey injuries and years of surfing scrapes have been absorbed as painful but far from disabling.
—
Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
Civil liberties groups that publish protest safety guidance consistently recommend disabling the face and fingerprint unlocking features and using a strong passcode.
—Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
The two engage in a knockdown drag out fight, with Caleb eventually coming out on top and disabling the programmable matter.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors allege Paul Caneiro cut the power to his brother's home, disabling a surveillance system that hours earlier picked up Keith leaving an angry message for Paul.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
The suit seeks compensation, noting that Dinkins has suffered permanent, disabling injuries that will limit his future earning capacity.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The dark or shadow fleet is a clandestine network of older oil tankers working with sanctioned nations, such as Iran and Russia, that conceal their oil trips by disabling tracking, using fake identities, and other tactics.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Video footage shared by the Department of Homeland Security shows Coast Guard personnel, including a sniper from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), using disabling fire against a go-fast vessel during the mission, which was part of Operation Pacific Viper.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Thompson said kids are disabling the speed limiter on e-bikes to operate at higher speeds.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025
Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
Civil liberties groups that publish protest safety guidance consistently recommend disabling the face and fingerprint unlocking features and using a strong passcode.
—Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
The two engage in a knockdown drag out fight, with Caleb eventually coming out on top and disabling the programmable matter.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors allege Paul Caneiro cut the power to his brother's home, disabling a surveillance system that hours earlier picked up Keith leaving an angry message for Paul.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
The suit seeks compensation, noting that Dinkins has suffered permanent, disabling injuries that will limit his future earning capacity.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The dark or shadow fleet is a clandestine network of older oil tankers working with sanctioned nations, such as Iran and Russia, that conceal their oil trips by disabling tracking, using fake identities, and other tactics.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
Video footage shared by the Department of Homeland Security shows Coast Guard personnel, including a sniper from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), using disabling fire against a go-fast vessel during the mission, which was part of Operation Pacific Viper.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Thompson said kids are disabling the speed limiter on e-bikes to operate at higher speeds.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disabling
Verb
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With temperatures well into the teens and 20s, the ice storm on the southern side will be crippling in terms of travel conditions, trees and power outages.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Continue reading … ‘BACK TO COVID’ – Minnesota restaurant owners say ICE enforcement is crippling their businesses.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Islamic Republic has shut down the internet and cut off telephone communications, paralyzing the country.—
Shahrnush Parsipur,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
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But even before their deaths and ensuing public outcry, James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Sherman saw fear paralyzing the city’s food community.—
Serena Maria Daniels,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Larter's Angela has been put through the wringer on the second season of Landman, from getting into an explosive battle with Thornton's Tommy over her period to getting arrested for incapacitating two health inspectors during a visit to her local nursing home.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Jan. 2026
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Dysentery and scurvy ravaged the vessel, killing or incapacitating many on board.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Russian general was one of several GRU officials sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for wide-ranging malicious cyber activity directed at undermining US democratic processes.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Poor oversight puts care at risk by draining resources, enabling unsafe practices, and undermining long-term sustainability.—
Miki Kapoor,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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An airstrike also hit a police station in Gaza City, killing at least 14 and wounding others, Shifa Hospital director Mahamed Abu Selmiya said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
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An airstrike also hit a police station in Gaza City, killing at least 14 and wounding others, Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiya said.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said the images were aimed less at reassuring the public than at boosting morale among the regime’s weakening security forces.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Skies will be sunny, with winds weakening by the afternoon.—
Anthony Franze,
San Antonio Express-News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sudden cold could be damaging to lawns due to the warm weather; most should regrow.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
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But toward the end of the afternoon session, the Frenchman spun on the damp track and hit the wall, damaging his car.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disabling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disabling. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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