debilitating
Sapping all strength
Debilitating describes something that weakens or impairs, draining strength or vitality.
A debilitating illness leaves you unable to function normally.
Debilitating debt cripples financial freedom.
The word emphasizes severity—not merely inconvenient but significantly impairing: The team suffered a debilitating loss of their star player.
Causing severe impairment
- paralyzingCausing inability to move
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
- incapacitatingMaking unable to act
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
devastating · immobilizing · severe · extreme · intense · disabling · ruinous · catastrophic
Weariness from prolonged exertion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
- tirednessState of needing rest
enervation · weariness · prostration · collapse · languor · sapped · worn-out · spent
Made weak or feeble
- frailtyWeakness of body
- infirmityWeakness from illness or age
- feeblenessLack of strength
- atrophyWasting from disuse
wasting · deterioration · fragility · incapacity · impotence · helplessness · vulnerability · decline
Imposed competitive disadvantage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- limitationBound on extent
- restrictionLimit on action
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
obstacle · barrier · encumbrance · setback · stumbling block · curtailment · bottleneck · roadblock
crippling
Causing severe impairment
- paralyzingCausing inability to move
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
- incapacitatingMaking unable to act
overwhelming · devastating · immobilizing · severe · extreme · intense · disabling · ruinous · catastrophic · unbearable
fatigue
Weariness from prolonged exertion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
tiredness · enervation · weariness · prostration · collapse · languor · sapped · worn-out · spent · drained
enfeebled
Made weak or feeble
- frailtyWeakness of body
- infirmityWeakness from illness or age
- feeblenessLack of strength
atrophy · wasting · deterioration · fragility · incapacity · impotence · helplessness · vulnerability · decline · weakened
handicap
Imposed competitive disadvantage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- limitationBound on extent
- restrictionLimit on action
constraint · obstacle · barrier · encumbrance · setback · stumbling block · curtailment · bottleneck · roadblock · inhibition
- exhaustingdraining, taxing, tiring, exhausting, fatiguing
- overwhelmingoverwhelming, overpowering, crushing, engulfing, smothering
- medical descriptorsacute, chronic, mild, moderate, severe
- decliningdeclining, waning, fading, diminishing, decreasing
- dispiritingdemoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting, deflating
- sensationstaste, touch, smell, sound, pain
debilitatinginvigorating
Imparting fresh energy
strengthening · energizing · revitalizing · vitalizing · fortifying
debilitatingrestorative
Promoting return to health
strengthening · healing · reviving · curative · therapeutic
debilitatingempowering
Giving authority or confidence
enabling · enhancing · bolstering · supportive · facilitating