crippling

Definitions

Causing a severe and debilitating injury or loss of function.

Having a disastrous or paralyzing effect on something, such as an economy or a system.

Examples

The company suffered from crippling debt that eventually led to its bankruptcy.

She was overcome by a crippling sense of anxiety before her big performance.

The blizzard caused a crippling delay in transportation across the entire region.

Synonyms

debilitating paralyzing incapacitating devastating ruinous damaging weakening

Antonyms

empowering strengthening invigorating enabling beneficial helpful restorative