debilitating
Britishadjective
Explanation
Something that's debilitating seriously affects someone or something's strength or ability to carry on with regular activities, like a debilitating illness. Debilitating comes from the Latin word debilis, meaning "weak." That's why you'll often see the adjective used to describe illness. After all, serious diseases weaken the body. Other things that can be debilitating are those that can stop you from reaching a goal, like a debilitating snow storm that forces you to stay home, or debilitating shyness that keeps you from reaching out to the people you want to meet.
Vocabulary lists containing debilitating
This Week in Words: February 5 - 9, 2018
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Feeling Faint: Synonyms for "Weak"
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Scythe
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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.
Early industrial work was repetitive, physically taxing and mentally debilitating.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
Mr. Lai, 78, has diabetes, heart problems, debilitating back pain, and chronic infections that suggest a failing immune system, his daughter says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
"As an interventional cardiologist, who treats patients with coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure on a daily basis, I would love to have another therapy to improve patient outcomes and reduce debilitating symptoms."
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
Sinbad, after he suffered a debilitating stroke in 2020, announced his comedy comeback on Wednesday — with Pasadena’s historic Ice House the site for his “homecoming.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
I staggered to my feet, the pain attacking me in debilitating waves.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
