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Some common synonyms of disable<\/em> are cripple<\/em><\/a>, debilitate<\/em><\/a>, enfeeble<\/em><\/a>, sap<\/em><\/a>, undermine<\/em><\/a>, and weaken<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor,\" disable<\/em> suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.<\/p>

\/\/ disabled<\/em> by an injury sustained at work<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'cripple' be a better fit than 'disable'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms cripple<\/em><\/a> and disable<\/em> are close in meaning, cripple<\/em> implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.<\/p>

\/\/ crippled<\/em> by arthritis<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'debilitate' a more appropriate choice than 'disable'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of debilitate<\/em><\/a> and disable<\/em> largely overlap; however, debilitate<\/em> suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.<\/p>

\/\/ the debilitating<\/em> effects of surgery<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'enfeeble' be used to replace 'disable'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words enfeeble<\/em><\/a> and disable<\/em> have much in common, enfeeble<\/em> implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.<\/p>

\/\/ enfeebled<\/em> by starvation<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How are the words 'undermine' and 'sap' related as synonyms of 'disable'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Both undermine<\/em><\/a> and sap<\/em><\/a> suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.<\/p>

\/\/ a poor diet undermines<\/em> your health<\/p>

\/\/ drugs had sapped<\/em> his ability to think<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'weaken' instead of 'disable'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to disable<\/em>, weaken<\/em><\/a> may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.<\/p>

\/\/ a disease that weakens<\/em> the body's defenses<\/p>" } } ] }

disable

verb

dis-ˈā-bÉ™l How to pronounce disable (audio)
Definition of disablenext
1
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to a promising athlete who was severely disabled in a plane crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move disabled the controls for unauthorized users

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word disable distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of disable are cripple, debilitate, enfeeble, sap, undermine, and weaken. While all these words mean "to lose or cause to lose strength or vigor," disable suggests bringing about impairment or limitation in a physical or mental ability.

disabled by an injury sustained at work

When might cripple be a better fit than disable?

While the synonyms cripple and disable are close in meaning, cripple implies causing a serious loss of functioning power through damaging or removing an essential part or element.

crippled by arthritis

When is debilitate a more appropriate choice than disable?

The meanings of debilitate and disable largely overlap; however, debilitate suggests a less marked or more temporary impairment of strength or vitality.

the debilitating effects of surgery

When could enfeeble be used to replace disable?

Although the words enfeeble and disable have much in common, enfeeble implies a condition of marked weakness and helplessness.

enfeebled by starvation

How are the words undermine and sap related as synonyms of disable?

Both undermine and sap suggest a weakening by something working surreptitiously and insidiously.

a poor diet undermines your health
drugs had sapped his ability to think

When is it sensible to use weaken instead of disable?

While in some cases nearly identical to disable, weaken may imply loss of physical strength, health, soundness, or stability or of quality, intensity, or effective power.

a disease that weakens the body's defenses

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disable In addition, Apple noted that DarkSword doesn't appear to work on iPhones that've enabled Lockdown Mode, which users can turn on to prevent spyware threats at the cost of disabling certain features. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026 Labidi is accused of disabling the safety feature on his vehicle that prevents a car from drifting and spinning. —Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 In addition to disabling its national lookup feature for all of California and prohibiting the formation of data sharing relationships between agencies inside and out of the state, Simmons said the company has also agreed to pay a $290,000 fee for any unauthorized data disclosures. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026 For most of her life, Henderson was disabled herself at 25 and a caregiver to her parents and others around her. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disable
  1. cripple
  2. paralyze
  3. incapacitate
  4. undermine
  5. injure
  6. weaken
Verb
  • Companies that export goods to, or import them from, the Middle East are crippled, as global supply chains are interrupted.
    — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
  • This capability allows Iran to position a disguised vessel off America’s coast, launch a nuclear warhead high into the atmosphere to cripple our grid and then sink the ship to obscure its origins.
    — Chuck DeVore, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of cripple
Verb
  • Among the suitors vying for her affection were Brad Ledford, who was the driver in the car accident that paralyzed former congressman Madison Cawthorn; Another, Clayton Johnson, was formerly engaged to Lana Del Rey.
    — Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Several companies are developing commercial BCIs, primarily for use in people who are paralyzed.
    — Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • One was incapacitated and recovering from surgery at a Carmichael surgery center in April 2011.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
  • At the time, the DA's office said Lynch's status would be reviewed in one year, unless he is found to be no longer incapacitated before then.
    — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of incapacitate
Verb
  • And Wright will need to explain how the administration’s latest emergency measure to keep oil flowing, a temporary sanctions waiver on Iran itself, won’t undermine US military objectives.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
  • From a consumer standpoint, the denial of being able to watch preferred games on account of college football broadcast exclusivity undermines fan interests.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • In an email sent to families on Tuesday afternoon, the Park Hill School District identified Walker as the woman killed in the crash that left four other teenagers injured.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Air Canada said Tuesday that six of the 39 people who were injured remain hospitalized.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of injure
Verb
  • For the country’s leadership, weakened militarily and more isolated than ever, inflicting economic suffering has become the most powerful weapon available.
    — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Continuous support could theoretically weaken muscles, so experts advise mixing exo use with traditional ergonomics and exercise.
    — Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of weaken

Browse Nearby Words

disability
disable
disabled
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Cite this Entry

“Disable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disable. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disable

Nglish: Translation of disable for Spanish Speakers

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