crippled
/ˈkrɪp.əld/ (bre, ipa) · [krˈɪpəld] /ˈkrɪp.əld/ (ame, ipa) · [krˈɪpəld] /ˈkri-pəl How to pronounce cripple (audio)/ (ame, mw)
crippled — adjective
- crippledpositive
- more crippledcomparative
- most crippledsuperlative
1. having lost normal freedom of movement, especially in the legs, after a major in
having lost normal freedom of movement, especially in the legs, after a major injury or illness; when applied to people, the term is now often heard as outdated or offensive.
The rescue center fitted a crippled fox with a lightweight rear-wheel cart.
crippled + animal with mobility aid
The biography says polio left her crippled, wording new editions now avoid.
leave + someone + crippled in older writing
An old court record described several veterans as crippled after the war.
The farmer carried the crippled lamb back across the wet field before dark.
- mobile
able to move around freely
- able-bodied
having normal physical movement and strength
文法句型
be crippled
leave + someone/animal + crippled
crippled + animal
用法筆記
Still used of injured animals, but when referring to people this wording is now widely avoided because many readers hear it as outdated or offensive. Distinguish from sense 2, which is the figurative use for damaged systems or services.
常見錯誤
2. so seriously broken that it can no longer do its main job properly.
so seriously broken that it can no longer do its main job properly.
The storm left the island's only bridge crippled for nearly a month.
leave + infrastructure + crippled
A ransomware attack kept the city's booking system crippled through exam week.
crippled + system after attack
Years of neglect have left the town's drainage network crippled every monsoon.
After the fire, the mill's cooling line remained crippled despite emergency repairs.
- disabled
technical and neutral; often used for devices or systems switched off
- wrecked
broader and often more physical or emotional in tone
- inoperative
more formal; stresses that the thing does not work
- functioning
working as it should
- restored
brought back into working condition
文法句型
be crippled
leave + system/place + crippled
crippled + network/bridge/service
用法筆記
Usually describes services, machinery, transport, bridges, or institutions that can still operate a little but are badly damaged. Stronger than sense 3 because the focus is on direct damage to the thing itself, not a burden holding it back.
常見錯誤
3. so weighed down by injuries, debt, fear, or another burden that normal progress
so weighed down by injuries, debt, fear, or another burden that normal progress becomes extremely hard.
The team was crippled by injuries before the final match in Busan.
crippled by + injuries
Long hospital bills left the family financially crippled by winter.
financially crippled
The small airline was crippled by fuel prices it could no longer absorb.
The research unit stayed crippled by staff shortages after three resignations.
文法句型
be crippled by + debt/injuries/shortages
financially crippled
用法筆記
Nearly always names the cause with 'by'. Distinguish from sense 2: here the subject may still be operating, but a burden such as debt, injuries, or shortages is holding it back badly.
常見錯誤
4. made with important features blocked or cut out, usually to push users toward a
made with important features blocked or cut out, usually to push users toward a paid or fuller version.
The free scanner app feels crippled without bulk export or cloud backup.
crippled free app with key tools removed
Reviewers said the budget camera was crippled by locked manual controls.
crippled by locked features
Our trial account was so crippled that reports expired every thirty minutes.
The game launched with a crippled offline mode that saved almost nothing.
- limited
more neutral; does not imply deliberate removal
- cut-down
informal; emphasizes that parts have been stripped away
- stripped-down
focuses on a reduced version with fewer tools
- full-featured
having the complete set of tools
- unlocked
not restricted by missing or blocked functions
文法句型
crippled app/version/device
crippled by locked features
用法筆記
Mostly used about software, devices, and paid services. It is stronger and more negative than 'basic' or 'lite' because it suggests useful functions were deliberately removed or locked.
常見錯誤
crippled — verb
1. the past tense and past participle of 'cripple' when an injury, illness, or viol
the past tense and past participle of 'cripple' when an injury, illness, or violent act caused lasting loss of normal movement in a person or animal; in current English, this use for people often sounds offensive.
The explosion crippled the rescue horse's back legs before the bridge collapse.
crippled + animal/body part
The old article said polio had crippled her left leg, wording editors now avoid.
had crippled in older medical writing
Shrapnel crippled two miners, according to the 1916 report from the pit.
The infection nearly crippled the guide dog before emergency surgery saved it.
文法句型
crippled + person/animal/body part
had crippled + object
用法筆記
This is the past form of 'cripple'. In present-day writing, many editors avoid it for people because it sounds outdated or offensive, preferring disabled, paralyzed, or a more exact medical description. The subject is usually the cause: an injury, disease, or attack.
常見錯誤
2. the past tense and past participle of 'cripple' when an attack, debt, strike, or
the past tense and past participle of 'cripple' when an attack, debt, strike, or disaster badly damaged a system, business, or place and left it barely able to function.
The cyber attack crippled the port's booking system for two straight days.
crippled + booking system after attack
Weeks of flooding crippled small farms across the valley before harvest.
disaster + crippled + local industry
Rising fuel costs crippled the family bus company within a single year.
One corrupted update crippled the hospital's payment network overnight.
- restored
brought back into operation
- stabilized
made able to function normally again
文法句型
crippled + system/business/place
had crippled + network/economy/service
用法筆記
This is the most common modern use of the verb form. The object is usually a network, service, company, economy, or industry rather than a person. It suggests severe damage with lasting practical effects, not just a short delay.