crippled

[ krip-uhld ]

adjective

1. Offensive.
   1. relating to a person who is partially or totally unable to use one or more limbs.
   2. relating to a person who is disabled or impaired in any way.
2. not operating or performing at the customary level; impaired; weakened:

   Significant progress has been made in repairing the crippled power plant.

   A telecommunications firm has signed a deal to get their crippled company back in business.

Sensitive Note

Why is crippled offensive? See cripple ( def ).

Other Words From

• un·crip·pled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crippled¹

First recorded in 1300–50; cripple ( def ) (verb) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

On Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had crippled Iranian air defence and missile production systems.

From BBC

"We lost, over a period of two years, in excess of £50,000, which has just crippled us," Mr Richardson said.

From BBC

Netanyahu can conclude he is on a roll, Hamas is irreparably crippled, and “we should double down on fighting and continue this endless war.”

From Los Angeles Times

Despite the Tories being in office for 14 years, she argues that increases in government regulations and public spending have crippled economic growth and polarised the country.

From BBC

Exhausted with the British Empire impressing American sailors into military service and refusing to accept United States neutrality in its conflict with France, Jefferson imposed a general trade embargo that crippled the New England economy.

From Salon

Related Words

• debilitated
• disabled
• impaired
• incapacitated
• limited
• maimed
• paralytic
• paralyzed
• restricted