debilitating
adjective
de·bil·i·tat·ing
di-ˈbi-lə-ˌtā-tiŋ 
dē-
: causing serious impairment of strength or ability to function
debilitating pain
a debilitating fear of public speaking
a debilitating illness
Thirty years have passed since a vaccine wiped out polio, but some of those who conquered the debilitating disease as children are now experiencing symptoms that seem all too familiar.—
Fay Knicely
Fay KnicelySeveral of these drugs are now in clinical testing to determine whether they can reduce or eliminate the debilitating nausea suffered by cancer patients on chemotherapy.—Ron Cowen
Ron Cowen
debilitatingly
adverb
Debilitatingly asthmatic as a child, Scarfe developed his talent while amusing himself and acquired the cynicism for authority that empowers his … drawings and sculpture during many frightening encounters with medical incompetence.
—Ray Olson
Ray Olson
Did you know?
The verb debilitate (and its adjective form debilitating) comes from the Latin word for "weak," debilis. Often used of disease—as in, "the patient was debilitated"—it can also suggest something that strikes like a disease or illness, "the actor was debilitated by stage fright." In sum, the word suggests a temporary impairment or a condition of weakness and helplessness.
Examples of debilitating in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her time with the Sky didn’t last two full seasons, but Mabrey made a major impact on the team after former GM/coach James Wade made a debilitating trade to acquire the guard in 2024.
—Julia Poe, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness that can cause hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and other emotional and behavioral issues.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
Tension headaches are the most common, and migraines usually cause the most debilitating symptoms.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
Awards How Margot Robbie overcame a ‘palpable and debilitating’ panic to make ‘Barbie’
Feb. 5, 2024
Robbie and Ackerley, both 34, first sparked pregnancy rumors over the summer.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
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Julia Poe, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness that can cause hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and other emotional and behavioral issues.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
Tension headaches are the most common, and migraines usually cause the most debilitating symptoms.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
Awards How Margot Robbie overcame a ‘palpable and debilitating’ panic to make ‘Barbie’
Feb. 5, 2024
Robbie and Ackerley, both 34, first sparked pregnancy rumors over the summer.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debilitating
Dictionary Entries Near debilitating
Cite this Entry
“Debilitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debilitating. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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