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adj C2 Proficient Uncommon

crippling

Crippling (adj) means causing severe damage, weakness, or hardship. Example: “They faced crippling debt after the business failed.”

adj
1
Causing severe damage, weakness, or hardship.
"They faced crippling debt after the business failed."
"She suffers from crippling anxiety before every exam."

How to use crippling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSo severe that it seriously disables or damages something.

Common pairings
crippling debt crippling anxiety crippling pain

Word forms

more crippling comparative, cripplings plural, most crippling superlative

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Test yourself on “crippling” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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They faced _____ debt after the business failed.

Rhymes for crippling

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Frequently asked questions

What does “crippling” mean?

The word “crippling” means causing severe damage, weakness, or hardship. In plain terms, so severe that it seriously disables or damages something.

How do you use “crippling” in a sentence?

Here is “crippling” used in a sentence: “They faced crippling debt after the business failed.”

What part of speech is “crippling”?

“Crippling” is an adjective.

Is “crippling” a common word?

“Crippling” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial