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
Worry is such a debilitating thing that robs you of your energy and distracts you of your concentration.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
Travis suffered a debilitating stroke about 12 years ago but continues to release original music with the aid of technologies.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
And Ukrainians are raising alarm that Trump’s foreign aid freeze, which halted economic support to Ukraine, is just as debilitating as weapons shortages on the frontline.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 16 Feb. 2025
The day was filled with a range of speakers — including parents of children and young adults suffering from debilitating and tragic conditions.
—Jack Kalavritinos, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debilitating
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Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025
Travis suffered a debilitating stroke about 12 years ago but continues to release original music with the aid of technologies.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2025
And Ukrainians are raising alarm that Trump’s foreign aid freeze, which halted economic support to Ukraine, is just as debilitating as weapons shortages on the frontline.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 16 Feb. 2025
The day was filled with a range of speakers — including parents of children and young adults suffering from debilitating and tragic conditions.
—Jack Kalavritinos, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debilitating
Cite this Entry
“Debilitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debilitating. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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