cripple

cripple Definition

crip·ple (krip′əl)

noun

a person or animal that is lame or otherwise disabled in a way that prevents normal motion of the limbs or body: somewhat offensive when used to refer to a person
☆ Dialectal thicketed, swampy or low, wet land

Etymology: ME cripel < OE crypel (akin to Ger krüppel) < base of creopan: see creep

transitive verb -·pled, -·pling

cripple Related Forms

crip′·pler noun

cripple Synonyms

cripple Usage Examples

Object

economy: Had they not almost crippled the entire British economy?
nation: Soon we may be able to cripple other nations without even having to set foot in them.
ability: Abrupt hikes in interest rates had further crippled the ability of home producers to compete in their own market place.
country: There is also a fuel crisis which is crippling the country with people waiting in lines for over 24 hours for fuel.
effort: Not only would this cripple the Spanish war effort, but also stabilize the finances of Cromwell's republican regime.

Converse of object

heal: The Holy Spirit overruled, yet Peter's reply pulled no punches. By whose authority did we heal this cripple?

Subject

arthritis: At about three she was crippled by juvenile arthritis, or Still's Disease.
debt: Problem: The developing nations are crippled by unfair debt.

Adjective modifier

emotional: Emotional cripple Kevin Keegan is also expected to be approached for the job at Maine Road.

Modifying Another Word

financially: Failure to act will see him financially cripple the club for years to come.
emotionally: John O'Brien's ' Leaving Las Vegas ' , the ending of which leaves the reader emotionally crippled?
economically: Bombs and restrictions have made Iraq poor, leaving the country denuded, bereft of infrastructure and economically crippled.
permanently: Many millions more have been wounded and permanently crippled.
severely: She did not burn like her sister ship but was severely crippled.
nearly: The first pair nearly crippled me, the sole has a dip across the ball of the foot.

Preposition: from

Preposition: with

arthritis: Person with arthritis NOT crippled with arthritis, arthritic.
debt: Welsh students can go onto higher education, assured that they will not be crippled with debt.

Preposition: by

arthritis: At about three she was crippled by juvenile arthritis, or Still's Disease.
debt: Problem: The developing nations are crippled by unfair debt.

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