cripple

verb [T]

/ˈkrɪp.l̩/

Definition

› to injure someone so that they are unable to walk or move in a normal wayInjuring and injuries › to cause serious damage to someone or something, making them weak and not effective: a country crippled by warDamaging and spoilingDestroying and demolishing crippled

/-l̩d/ adjective › describes someone with serious injuries that affect their ability to walk or move: Will she be crippled for life?Handicap and the disabled crippling

/-l.̩ɪŋ/ /-.lɪŋ/ adjective › describes something that causes someone serious injuries or harm: A crippling attack of malaria kept him in bed for months. crippling debtsLimiting and restrictingPreventing and impeding

(Definition of cripple verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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