Synonyms

crippled

American

[krip-uhld] / ˈkrɪp əld /

adjective

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.
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 Word Forms

uncrippled adjective

Etymology

Origin of crippled

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

Explanation

When something is crippled, it's not working properly. Your bike might be crippled by the broken front brake that won't let the wheel turn freely. You can used the adjective crippled to talk about a broken machine or a process that's not working the way it should. It was once commonly used to describe a physically disabled person, but this has become an offensive term and should be avoided. The word crippled comes from the Old English crypel, which is related to cryppan, "to crook or to bend."

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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.

The latest wave crippled Kyiv's energy system, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating as temperatures plunged to -20C.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

She said major issues with the officer’s credibility crippled both cases.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Some popular hotels, crippled by ongoing blackouts, have begun to shut down, ferrying remaining guests to other lodging, according to Russia’s tour-operator agency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

In any case, Iran is expected to demand the lifting of sanctions that have crippled its economy.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Daisy shivered; then she uttered a low moan and started rubbing her crippled leg with her hand.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023