Meaning & use
crippling
Last updated
Severely damaging or weakening, to the point of causing serious impairment.
See it in a sentence
The company was struggling under crippling debt after years of overspending.
A crippling injury forced the athlete to retire early from the sport.
A note on using this word
Often used figuratively (crippling debt, crippling anxiety) as well as literally; some prefer to use it thoughtfully given its link to physical disability.
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