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 An American president is less democratically accountable than the British prime minister, because partisanship has disabled the checks that the Founders placed on the chief executive. —Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026 If the low-voltage battery dies or is disabled, the doors may not unlock and must be operated manually from the inside. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026 Review permissions carefully and disable anything that is not essential. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026 Additional options allow toggling Anisotropic Materials, Chromatic Aberration, and Bloom, and disabling Global Illumination entirely. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 3 Feb. 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
  • Measles is endemic in Somalia, where war and international aid cuts have crippled the medical system, and elsewhere in East Africa where residents here often travel.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
  • In the current session the GOP think tank is conjuring ways to cut property tax, a move that will cripple county and city government’s capacity to provide services to their constituents.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of cripple
Verb
  • Many of the last 50 years in state government were most notable for the paralyzing search to find the money to fund the budget.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
  • At times paralyzed by self-doubt and criticism, Donatella believed in the life-changing magic of a great cocktail dress (or a good hair day) to elevate or protect yourself.
    — Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • In the first half of the Super Bowl against Cincinnati, Beckham suffered a complete ACL tear and was incapacitated.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The two climbers, 47 and 50 years old, were requesting assistance, saying they were incapacitated and unable to continue their route.
    — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of incapacitate
Verb
  • Does this argument fit the full suite of facts, or are there inconvenient findings that undermine the argument?
    — Big Think, Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Bailey asserted that retiree speech could still undermine good order and discipline, and denied that Hegseth’s actions would extend the reach of the military’s punitive powers over retirees.
    — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • Dozens more were injured, many suffering serious or life-threatening injuries.
    — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Italy’s national fire and rescue service, Vigili del Fuoco, reported that, over the weekend, two people died and one was seriously injured in Alpe Meriggio in Valtellina after being caught in an avalanche that fatally buried at least one of the victims.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of injure
Verb
  • Investors don’t want to inadvertently cheer on weakening job growth that could negatively impact consumer spending and economic growth, hurting stock prices.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The National Weather Service says the ridge keeping California dry since last month is beginning to weaken.
    — Monica Garske, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
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 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disable

Nglish: Translation of disable for Spanish Speakers

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