crippled
crippled Lexical Profile
crippled Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Severely damaged, impaired, or rendered unable to function properly (especially of an organization, economy, or machine).
"The airline struggled to recover its schedule after a crippled computer system grounded hundreds of flights."
(Dated, often offensive) Having a severe physical disability or injury that impairs the ability to walk or move normally.
"The veterinarian fashioned a small wheeled cart to help the crippled dog move around the yard."
• verb
To cause a severe and almost insuperable problem for, or to damage the ability of something to function normally (past tense and past participle of "cripple").
"Rising inflation and supply chain shortages crippled the manufacturing sector throughout the winter."
Word Nuance & Usage
When describing people with physical disabilities, "crippled" is now widely considered dated and offensive; terms such as "disabled" or "mobility-impaired" are preferred in contemporary usage. However, figurative uses describing damaged objects, systems, or economies remain standard.
• Rhymes for crippled
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed as the past participle of "cripple," which derives from Old English "crypel," related to the Germanic root of "creep" (meaning to move close to the ground or bend).