Cripple — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈkri-pəl/ crip·ple

Meaning & Definition of Cripple

Cripple (noun)

  1. a lame or partly disabled person or animal
  2. someone who is disabled or deficient in a specified manner

Cripple (adjective)

  1. being disabled, flawed, or imperfect

Cripple (verb)

  1. to severely damage (something), to destroy the strength, efficiency, or wholeness of (something)
  2. to deprive (someone) of the use of a limb and especially a leg

Cripple (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause severe or permanent injury to

    "the car crash may have crippled two people for life"

    similar: disable, incapacitate, lame, maim, mutilate
    related: dismember, hamstring, hobble, paralyze, batter, bruise, bung up, mangle, maul, rough (up), gore, lacerate, wing, wound, disfigure, scar, kneecap, break, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, bash, beat, belt, bludgeon, buffet, drub, hammer, lace, lambaste, lick, paste, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, thump, bang, box, hit, punch, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thrash, thwack, whack, flog, lash, wallop, whip, kill, murder, torment, torture
    near: cure, heal, rehabilitate, remedy, doctor, fix, mend, patch, rejuvenate, renew, repair, restore

  2. to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of

    "the collision so severely crippled the ship that it had to be towed into port"

    similar: blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cross (up), damage, deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate
    related: deteriorate, enervate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken, erode, scour, wash out, wear (away), blight, tarnish, dent, ding, dint, botch, gum (up), queer, lacerate, wound, disable, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, torment, torture, annihilate, bang up, bash, batter, clobber, crush, dash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, scourge, shatter, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wreck
    opposite: doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp
    near: cure, heal, help, rectify, rehabilitate, remedy, edit, remodel, revise, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

  3. to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move

    "a wave of strikes crippled that nation's steel industry"

    similar: disable, hamstring, immobilize, incapacitate, paralyze, prostrate
    related: attenuate, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken, hobble, lame, maim, mutilate, knock out
    near: energize, galvanize, invigorate, vitalize, fortify, strengthen, empower, freshen, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, restore, revitalize, revive

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cripple

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cripple:

disable, incapacitate, lame, maim, mutilate, blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cross (up), damage, deface, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate, hamstring, immobilize, paralyze, prostrate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cripple

Words with the opposite meaning of Cripple:

doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp

Related Words for Cripple

dismember, hobble, batter, bruise, bung up, mangle, maul, rough (up), gore, lacerate, wing, wound, scar, kneecap, bash, beat, belt, bludgeon, buffet, drub, hammer, lace, lambaste, lick, paste, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, thump

Near Antonyms of Cripple

cure, heal, rehabilitate, remedy, rejuvenate, renew, restore, help, rectify, edit, remodel, revise, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine, energize, galvanize, invigorate, vitalize, fortify, strengthen, empower, freshen, refresh, refreshen

Word Forms of Cripple

Inflections: cripples, crippled, crippling

Derived words: cripplingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Cripple

Middle English cripel, from Old English crypel; akin to Old English crēopan to creep creep

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Cripple

What does "Cripple" mean?

"Cripple" means a lame or partly disabled person or animal. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: a lame or partly disabled person or animal. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cripple"?

Other words for "Cripple" include disable, incapacitate, lame, maim, mutilate, blemish, bloody and break. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cripple" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cripple"?

There are 123 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cripple". Common alternatives include disable, incapacitate, lame, maim, mutilate, blemish, bloody, break, compromise and crab.

What is the opposite of "Cripple"?

Antonyms of "Cripple" include doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct and renovate. Near antonyms include cure, heal, rehabilitate and remedy.

How do you use "Cripple" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cripple" in a sentence: "the car crash may have crippled two people for life"; "the collision so severely crippled the ship that it had to be towed into port"; "a wave of strikes crippled that nation's steel industry".

Is "Cripple" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cripple" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Cripple"?

"Cripple" is pronounced /ˈkri-pəl/ and divided into syllables as crip·ple.

What is the origin of the word "Cripple"?

"Cripple" comes from Middle English cripel, from Old English crypel; akin to Old English crēopan to creep creep. First known use: before 12th century.