debilitating
adjective
de·bil·i·tat·ing
di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtā-tiŋ 
dē-
: causing serious impairment of strength or ability to function
debilitating pain
a debilitating fear of public speaking
a debilitating illness
Thirty years have passed since a vaccine wiped out polio, but some of those who conquered the debilitating disease as children are now experiencing symptoms that seem all too familiar.—
Fay Knicely
Fay KnicelySeveral of these drugs are now in clinical testing to determine whether they can reduce or eliminate the debilitating nausea suffered by cancer patients on chemotherapy.—Ron Cowen
Ron Cowen
debilitatingly
adverb
Debilitatingly asthmatic as a child, Scarfe developed his talent while amusing himself and acquired the cynicism for authority that empowers his … drawings and sculpture during many frightening encounters with medical incompetence.
—Ray Olson
Ray Olson
Did you know?
The verb debilitate (and its adjective form debilitating) comes from the Latin word for "weak," debilis. Often used of disease—as in, "the patient was debilitated"—it can also suggest something that strikes like a disease or illness, "the actor was debilitated by stage fright." In sum, the word suggests a temporary impairment or a condition of weakness and helplessness.
Examples of debilitating in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet suffered a debilitating stroke while on tour in mid-October, it was revealed on Tuesday, when a representative for his management company posted a fundraising appeal on GoFundMe to support his recovery.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
Read the statement from Russell Carter in full below:
Last week, Matthew Sweet was forced to cancel an extensive cross-country tour of both headline dates and opening slots for longtime friends, Hanson after suffering a debilitating stroke in Toronto late Saturday evening (October 12).
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2024
Matthew Sweet is raising healthcare funds after being hospitalized due to a debilitating stroke on October 12 while on tour in Toronto supporting Hanson.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2024
In the beginning, the Narrator briefly escapes his insomnia by attending gatherings of people with terminal and debilitating illnesses.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024
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Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
Read the statement from Russell Carter in full below:
Last week, Matthew Sweet was forced to cancel an extensive cross-country tour of both headline dates and opening slots for longtime friends, Hanson after suffering a debilitating stroke in Toronto late Saturday evening (October 12).
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2024
Matthew Sweet is raising healthcare funds after being hospitalized due to a debilitating stroke on October 12 while on tour in Toronto supporting Hanson.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2024
In the beginning, the Narrator briefly escapes his insomnia by attending gatherings of people with terminal and debilitating illnesses.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debilitating
Dictionary Entries Near debilitating
Cite this Entry
“Debilitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debilitating. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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