1
as in incapacitating
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the car crash may have crippled two people for life
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2
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the collision so severely crippled the ship that it had to be towed into port
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3
as in paralyzing
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a wave of strikes crippled that nation's steel industry
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as in harm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crippling
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Thomas’ absence has been crippling for the Giants in recent years.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
More importantly, if just one lock were disabled or destroyed, the passage from east to west would be essentially inoperable, crippling the United States and its military defenses.
—Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025
The accumulation of beta amyloid soaks up more and more lithium, further crippling the brain’s ability to clear it away.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
Deadly floods in Asia have devastated crops, crippling already fragile food production.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Thomas’ absence has been crippling for the Giants in recent years.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2025
More importantly, if just one lock were disabled or destroyed, the passage from east to west would be essentially inoperable, crippling the United States and its military defenses.
—Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025
The accumulation of beta amyloid soaks up more and more lithium, further crippling the brain’s ability to clear it away.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crippling
Verb
-
To write one’s way out of the incapacitating dependence of daughterhood into autonomy means shedding the unquestioning fidelity of a child.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This is not some bloodthirsty pirate contempt with conquering a pleasure planet like everyone thought, but a calculative master manipulator and tactician who knew the value of Kalgan and used it to acquire a larger prize — incapacitating the Empire’s attack forces.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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China has rejected the accusation and accused the Philippines of damaging the coral reef ecosystem in the waterway instead.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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To get a much clearer look at its fine details and avoid damaging the specimen, the research team used highly powerful synchrotron CT scans from facilities in France and the UK.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Doctors spent several minutes resuscitating Luka before making the difficult decision to use a paralyzing agent to stop him from moving and potentially hurting himself.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Without these supports, free-will can feel utterly paralyzing.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That means having to cut jokes that don't fit his do-no-harm MO.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Since 1972, The Marine Mammal Protection Act has served as a buffer against this cacophony, giving regulators tools to limit harm and protect species from deadly entanglements, vessel strikes, and industrial noise.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If using a smartphone, NOAA recommends enabling night mode, disabling flash and relying on a tripod to stabilize the image.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Though an Indiana judge dismissed the charges alleging neglect based on Natalia’s age, prosecutors were able to bring charges against the former couple for neglect based on Natalia’s disabling dwarfism, the Journal and Courier reported.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Boston comes in with three straight losses marring otherwise agreeable vibes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Caracas insists the buildup is part of a broader campaign directed at undermining President Nicolás Maduro’s government.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
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By targeting us – the creators who give voice to diverse narratives and foster dialogue – these signatories are undermining their own cause and attempting to silence us.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The alleged crimes include torture and mutilation, and Heuermann allegedly took notes on the crimes, the targets and measures to avoid detection.—
Michael Ruiz , Jennifer Johnson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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But then, in April, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo that said the Justice Department would investigate doctors who provide transition care to minors under existing laws, including laws against genital mutilation.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crippling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crippling. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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