cripple
verb
[ ˈkrɪp(ə)l ]
• cause severe and disabling damage to; deprive of the ability to function normally.
• "developing countries are crippled by their debts"
Similar:
ruin,
destroy,
wipe out,
crush,
break,
impair,
hamstring,
hamper,
impede,
cramp,
spoil,
sabotage,
scotch,
scupper,
bring to a standstill,
paralyse,
enfeeble,
weaken,
render powerless,
put out of action,
put out of business,
bankrupt,
make bankrupt,
make insolvent,
impoverish,
reduce to penury,
bring someone to their knees,
clean out,
put the kibosh on,
do for,
rain on someone's parade,
bring to naught,
vitiate,
beggar,
pauperize,
• cause (someone) to become unable to walk or move normally.
• "a young student was crippled for life"
Similar:
disable,
paralyse,
immobilize,
incapacitate,
debilitate,
maim,
impair,
damage,
injure,
hamstring,
torpefy,
cripple
noun
• a person with a severe limitation of a specified kind.
• "an emotional cripple"
• a person who is unable to walk or move normally through disability or because of injury to their back or legs.
Origin:
Old English: from two words, crypel and crēopel, both of Germanic origin and related to creep.