incapacitating
Making someone powerless
Incapacitating describes something that renders a person unable to function normally.
An incapacitating injury prevents someone from working or moving.
An incapacitating illness leaves you bedridden.
In military and law enforcement contexts, incapacitating agents or weapons disable without killing: The officer used an incapacitating spray.
The word emphasizes loss of capacity rather than mere discomfort.
Causing severe impairment
- weakeningBecoming less strong
- enfeeblingCausing loss of strength
- exhaustingDepleting one's stamina
- drainingDepleting one's reserves
sapping · enervating · prostrating · crippling · impairing · disabling · undermining · deteriorating
Causing loss of function
- handicappingEqualizing chances artificially
- hinderingCreating obstacles to progress
- hamperingInterfering with progress
- hobblingWalking with impairment
limiting · restricting · obstructing · impeding · thwarting · neutralizing · knocking out · taking out
Intensely excessive in force
- overpoweringToo intense to withstand
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
- staggeringShockingly impressive or unsteady
- devastatingCausing severe damage
crippling · stifling · suffocating · engulfing · consuming · dominating · oppressive · unbearable
Preventing any motion
- paralyzingCausing inability to move
- freezingExtremely cold
- stunningExtremely impressive or beautiful
- haltingMarked by hesitation
arresting · stopping · rooting · anchoring · transfixing · petrifying · benumbing · numbing
debilitating
Causing severe impairment
- weakeningBecoming less strong
- enfeeblingCausing loss of strength
- exhaustingDepleting one's stamina
draining · sapping · enervating · prostrating · crippling · impairing · disabling · undermining · deteriorating · wasting
disabling
Causing loss of function
- handicappingEqualizing chances artificially
- hinderingCreating obstacles to progress
- hamperingInterfering with progress
hobbling · limiting · restricting · obstructing · impeding · thwarting · neutralizing · knocking out · taking out · sidelining
overwhelming
Intensely excessive in force
- overpoweringToo intense to withstand
- crushingOverwhelming in intensity
- staggeringShockingly impressive or unsteady
devastating · crippling · stifling · suffocating · engulfing · consuming · dominating · oppressive · unbearable · intense
immobilizing
Preventing any motion
- paralyzingCausing inability to move
- freezingExtremely cold
- stunningExtremely impressive or beautiful
halting · arresting · stopping · rooting · anchoring · transfixing · petrifying · benumbing · numbing · sedating
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
incapacitatingenabling
Making something feasible
empowering · activating · facilitating · mobilizing · galvanizing
incapacitatinghealing
Restoration of health
restorative · strengthening · invigorating · revitalizing · curative
incapacitatingempowering
Giving authority or confidence
emboldening · galvanizing · inspiring · motivating · uplifting