disable

verb

dis-ˈā-bəl 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 The penultimate episode ended with Dr. Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif) getting handcuffed by police for disabling her ankle monitor. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025 These features are automatically turned on for all teen accounts, but 16- and 17-year-olds can disable the features themselves, and children under 16 can do so with parental consent. —Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025 Instead, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said a direct lightning strike disabled the moving vehicle. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025 The screen supports a 120 Hz refresh rate, but that's disabled by default. —ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025 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
  • About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.
    — Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2023
  • Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.
    — Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
Definition of cripple
Verb
  • He was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died three months later.
    — Staff report, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The disturbing event all but paralyzes Kyle on the couch as the viral loathing continues.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • The program, now in its 23rd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and guardianship services, the release said.
    — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.
    — Kristina Goetz, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of incapacitate
Verb
  • The site goes on to advance the theory that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab and undermines Trump’s political rivals like Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Critics are concerned Trump's latest move could allow the administration to purge nonpartisan career officials and replace them with political loyalists, undermining the independence of the federal workforce.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • Memorial at Florida State University after a fatal shooting killed two people and injured several others.
    — Kati Weis, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The spill killed 11 people and injured 17 others as 210 million gallons of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico (recently renamed by the U.S. government as Gulf of America) for a total of 87 days.
    — Terry Collins, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of injure
Verb
  • Agreeing to a pick swap with the Lynx weakened the value of the pick that the Sky traded away.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • One by one, the sectors defect, and, eventually, the leader may weaken and their government may fall.
    — Julia Angwin, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of weaken

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disabled
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Cite this Entry

“Disable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disable. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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