crippling adjective 3noun 1forms 3 adjective3 •That cripples or incapacitates •Causing a severe and insurmountable problem; detrimental.The high cost of capital has a crippling effect on many small firms. •Causing serious injuries, damage, or harm; damaging. noun1 •The act by which somebody or something is crippled. formscripplings · more crippling · most crippling