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
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
This involved disabling the genes that let pig embryos form a kidney and injecting human stem cells into the embryo to fill the gap where a kidney would be.
—Monika Piotrowska, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
The agency released video footage showing Coast Guard vehicles and a helicopter pursuing the non-compliant vessel, disabling it before seizing the illicit cargo.
—Hollie Silverman, 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
The electricity has gone out several times, disabling the elevators and taking away his ability to get to work.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
In recent years, scientists have been able to identify many cytokines and create targeted therapies for a host of disabling, sometimes fatal, diseases.
—Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
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
This involved disabling the genes that let pig embryos form a kidney and injecting human stem cells into the embryo to fill the gap where a kidney would be.
—Monika Piotrowska, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025
The agency released video footage showing Coast Guard vehicles and a helicopter pursuing the non-compliant vessel, disabling it before seizing the illicit cargo.
—Hollie Silverman, 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
The electricity has gone out several times, disabling the elevators and taking away his ability to get to work.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
In recent years, scientists have been able to identify many cytokines and create targeted therapies for a host of disabling, sometimes fatal, diseases.
—Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disabling
Verb
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Both have endured crippling US sanctions that have precipitated economic collapses.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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None of that was fearful because fear of the unknown, like fear of, showing up in a situation and not knowing what's gonna happen is like, that's a thing that's like crippling to adults and definitely crippling to teenagers.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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At the end of his first year as CEO, a blizzard known as Winter Storm Elliott triggered an operational meltdown, stranding thousands of Southwest customers at the height of the holiday season, paralyzing the company’s point-to-point network, and plunging the company into a profit-killing crisis.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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No matter the scenario, Victor portrays PTSD as a paralyzing force with accuracy and grace—an all-too-rare combination.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The only way to repair the rift and deal with the incapacitating grief is through art.—
James Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2025
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He is accused of slipping incapacitating drugs into victims’ food or drinks before assaulting them between 2021 and 2024.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cho’s team argued in court that Yoon sought to prolong his hold on power by undermining South Korea’s constitutional system of governance.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The suspect, charged with murder and other crimes, allegedly shot at four people in separate vehicles in Prince George’s County, killing one and wounding two.—
Jasmine Golden,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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Faceworld members opened fire, killing Jordan and wounding another woman.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.—
Charlotte Kramon,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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Freezing foods quickly helps preserve texture by preventing large ice crystals from damaging delicate cell walls.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disabling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disabling. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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