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.
Word History
First Known Use
1641, in the meaning defined above
debilitating 1 of 2
adjective
as in enervating
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- enervating
- enfeebling
- demoralizing
- exhausting
- fatiguing
- discouraging
- draining
- dispiriting
- disheartening
- annoying
- irksome
- unsurprising
- irritating
- cumbersome
- wearing
- commonplace
- unexceptional
- bothersome
- ordinary
- vapid
- tepid
- common
- unrewarding
- plodding
- palling
- pokey
- uneventful
- lumbering
- uninspiring
- unexciting
- unimaginative
- unspectacular
- gray
- prosaic
- sterile
- poky
- soggy
- unsensational
- pallid
- spiritless
- inanimate
- longsome
- dullish
- earthbound
- suspenseless
- pedantic
- undramatic
- prosy
- unnewsworthy
- barren
- blank
- pleasureless
- aseptic
- blah
- grey
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- interesting
- involving
- surprising
- intriguing
- astonishing
- exhilarating
- spectacular
- wondrous
- engaging
- exciting
- riveting
- astounding
- amazing
- absorbing
- wonderful
- gripping
- engrossing
- sensational
- inspiring
- thrilling
- amusing
- marvellous
- stimulating
- breathtaking
- marvelous
- awesome
- electrifying
- energizing
- entertaining
- fabulous
- galvanizing
- poignant
- stirring
- rousing
- fascinating
- invigorating
- attractive
- alluring
- charming
- enthralling
- moving
- hair-raising
- beguiling
- eye-opening
- enchanting
- enlivening
- bewitching
- animating
- touching
- entrancing
- diverting
- attracting
- rip-roaring
- tantalizing
- spellbinding
- provocative
- suspenseful
- captivating
- mesmerizing
- arresting
debilitating
2 of 2verb
as in weakening
to diminish the physical strength of the heart surgery debilitated the college athlete beyond his worst fears Synonyms & Similar Words
- weakening
- softening
- exhausting
- tiring
- paralyzing
- wasting
- enervating
- damaging
- crippling
- enfeebling
- sapping
- devitalizing
- hurting
- incapacitating
- injuring
- disabling
- depressing
- impairing
- depleting
- etiolating
- prostrating
- impoverishing
- harming
- hamstringing
- unmanning
- invaliding
- wearing out
- wearing down
- laying up
- washing out
- grinding (down)
- breaking down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strengthening
- energizing
- invigorating
- fortifying
- recruiting
- hardening
- rejuvenating
- beefing (up)
- vitalizing
- toughening
- seasoning