kneecapping
Paramilitary torture method
Kneecapping is shooting or otherwise destroying someone's kneecap as punishment or intimidation.
The practice became notorious during the Northern Ireland conflict, when paramilitaries used it against suspected informers or rule-breakers.
Figuratively, to kneecap someone is to cripple their ability to act: The budget cuts kneecapped the agency's enforcement division.
Discharging a weapon
- maimingInflicting disabling wounds
- paramilitaryUnofficial armed organization
- IRATax-advantaged retirement fund
- vigilanteExtralegal justice-seeker
punishment beating · torture · intimidation · crippling · breaking · baseball bat · execution · victim
Weakening by covert means
- hobblingWalking with impairment
- cripplingCausing severe impairment
- handicappingEqualizing chances artificially
- hamperingInterfering with progress
hindering · weakening · debilitating · disabling · incapacitating · thwarting · stymieing · sabotaging
shooting
Discharging a weapon
- maimingInflicting disabling wounds
- paramilitaryUnofficial armed organization
- IRATax-advantaged retirement fund
punishment beating · vigilante · torture · intimidation · crippling · breaking · baseball bat · execution · victim · gang
undermining
Weakening by covert means
- hobblingWalking with impairment
- cripplingCausing severe impairment
- handicappingEqualizing chances artificially
hampering · hindering · weakening · debilitating · disabling · incapacitating · thwarting · stymieing · sabotaging · paralyzing
- Kneepatella, meniscus, ACL, LCL, patellar tendon
- thuggerybullying, intimidation, strong-arming, menacing, threatening
- loan sharksloan shark, shylock, vig, vigorish, juice
- vigilantismvigilante, vigilantism, lynch mob, lynching, mob justice
kneecappinghealing
Restoration of health
medical treatment · rehabilitation · physical therapy · protection · safeguarding
kneecappingrehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
physical therapy · knee replacement · orthopedic surgery · enabling · empowering