verb

cause severe and disabling damage to; deprive of the ability to function normally.

developing countries are crippled by their debts

ruin,destroy,wipe out,crush,break,impair,hamstring,hamper,impede,cramp,spoil,sabotage,scotch,scupper,bring to a standstill,paralyse,enfeeble,weaken,render powerless,put out of action,put out of business,bankrupt,make bankrupt,make insolvent,impoverish,reduce to penury,bring someone to their knees,clean out,put the kibosh on,do for,rain on someone’s parade,bring to naught,vitiate,beggar,pauperize

noun

a person with a severe limitation of a specified kind.

an emotional cripple