kneecapped
Shot in patella
Kneecapped means shot or otherwise deliberately injured in the kneecap—a punishment or intimidation tactic associated with paramilitary groups, particularly in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
The figurative sense dominates current usage: to kneecap something is to cripple or severely undermine it: The budget cuts kneecapped the program before it launched.
His own party kneecapped his nomination.
Deliberately damaged or destroyed
- underminedWeakened by stealth
- hobbledWalked lamely
- crippledSeverely damaged or impaired
- weakenedMade less capable
derailed · obstructed · handicapped · hamstrung · thwarted · blocked · stymied · neutralized
Quick liquor serving
- maimedPermanently injured or disfigured
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- paramilitaryUnofficial armed organization
IRA · Belfast · Troubles · baseball bat · crippled · legs · retaliation · gangland
sabotaged
Deliberately damaged or destroyed
- underminedWeakened by stealth
- hobbledWalked lamely
- crippledSeverely damaged or impaired
weakened · derailed · obstructed · handicapped · hamstrung · thwarted · blocked · stymied · neutralized · sidelined
shot
Quick liquor serving
- maimedPermanently injured or disfigured
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
paramilitary · IRA · Belfast · Troubles · baseball bat · crippled · legs · retaliation · gangland · mob
budget cuts
Planned spending reductions
strangled · starved · restricted · limited · curtailed · reduced · stripped · depleted · drained · undermined
kneecappedwhole
Full and undivided
able-bodied · intact · uninjured · healthy · unharmed
kneecappedempowered
Given power to act
strengthened · enabled · bolstered · supported · reinforced