Definitions

crippling

ADJECTIVE

harmful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adverse bad catastrophic damaging destructive detrimental disadvantageous disastrous inimical noxious painful pernicious risky ruinous sinful toxic unhealthy unsafe

WEAK

baleful baneful calamitous cataclysmic consumptive corroding corrupting deleterious dire evil harassing incendiary internecine malefic malicious malignant menacing mischievous murderous nocuous pestiferous pestilential sinister subversive undermining unwholesome virulent

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantageous aiding assisting beneficial favorable fortunate good harmless healthy helpful honest kind lucky profitable safe upright

ADJECTIVE

ruinous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

calamitous cataclysmic catastrophic damaging deadly dire fatal harmful hurtful murderous pernicious

WEAK

annihilative baleful baneful deleterious depleting draining exhausting extravagant fateful immoderate impoverishing injurious noxious shattering suicidal unfortunate wasteful withering wrackful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

favorable fortunate harmless healthful helpful kind nice trivial unimportant wholesome

WEAK

advantageous assisting beneficial

ADJECTIVE

tumbledown

Synonyms

WEAK

annihilative baleful baneful calamitous cataclysmic catastrophic damaging deadly deleterious depleting dilapidated dire draining exhausting extravagant fatal fateful harmful hurtful immoderate impoverishing injurious murderous noxious pernicious ramshackle rundown shattering suicidal unfortunate wasteful withering wrackful

NOUN

disarmament

Synonyms

STRONGEST

demilitarization demobilization

STRONG

conquest de-escalation disablement disqualification freeze occupation pacification subjugation

WEAK

arms limitation arms reduction neutralizing paralyzing rendering powerless

Antonyms

STRONG

surrender yielding

WEAK

arming buildup

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday announced greater freedoms for small businesses across the country, as the communist government takes steps to liberalize the island's economy in the face of a crippling US blockade.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

When a beefy bad guy who was about to squish a normal-sized good guy received a crippling blow to the scrotum, I laughed.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

Token prices have risen about 60% since the end of February, driven by more users turning to agentic AI to independently carry out tasks and a crippling shortage of memory and storage.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

But Ottolenghi, who has 11 restaurants, cafes and delis, described the situation was "crippling" - not just for his own business, but for others running bakeries, cafes, and pubs.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Also, if anyone out there ever wants to experience the ultimate in crippling guilt, I recommend that you try beating a bald, bloated five-year-old cancer patient at a board game.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick

crippling

Example Sentences

Related Words