emotional cripple noun1 •(offensive) A person who has been rendered indecisive, alienated, uncaring, confused, or helpless through experiencing debilitating emotions, such as worry, fear, panic, despair, etc.The truth is I was an emotional cripple when I met her, drunk more often than not, punishing myself for doing things that went against my nature. — 1997 formsemotional cripples