disabling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "disabling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of making something non-functional or inactive, often in a technical or operational context. Example: "The technician is disabling the security system for maintenance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They see the mother as responsible for consciously disabling her child, but I assume they distinguish between a mother aborting a foetus and a mother harming a foetus she intends to bring to life.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead of trapping and slowly eliminating the virus, some believe that disabling the CCR5 receptor simply provoked it to mutate and invade cells via alternative receptors.

The Guardian

Disability advocates have criticised media coverage of the review process, particularly for people on the DSP, with the front page of the Sunday Telegraph singled out on Sunday for having the headline: "disabling rorters".

The Guardian

Officers believe they got into the building, which houses a number of businesses, through a communal entrance before disabling the lift so they could climb down the shaft to the basement.

The Guardian

Brown's cure exploited a rare gene mutation which occurs in around 1% of the population, disabling this receptor, and making these individuals almost immune to infection.

The Guardian

But the VMS transmits only to officialdom, so there can be no excuse for disabling it.

The Economist

That moment never came, despite total spending of more than $2 billion on fuel oil and the aborted light-water reactors.American officials say that, under the new agreement, aid will be provided in tandem with North Korean progress towards declaring and disabling its nuclear programmes.

The Economist

Disabling the messengers of the gene that encodes a receptor protein called TGF beta-R2, which is found on cell surfaces, caused cells that had once been resistant to Xalkori to shrivel in its presence.

The Economist

They don't need hotels to "protect" them by disabling hotspots and forcing them to use expensive in-house Wi-Fi.Marriott owes business travellers an apology, and a commitment to refrain from this type of behaviour in the future.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Cheaper car insurance might persuade more drivers to accept phone-disabling features.Another app, TextLimit, disables the touchscreen on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices when the GPS in the device determines that it is moving at a preselected speed, says David Meers of Mobile Life Solutions, the app's developer, based in Atlanta.

The Economist

And in the end, the father, becoming disabled himself – developing a creeping disabling condition – and with the terrible burden of Joey, hates life so much he kills himself, then the audience applauds.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "disabling", consider the specific context and choose a more precise verb if needed, such as "deactivating" or "neutralizing", to better convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "disabling" as a blanket term for all situations where something is made non-functional. In technical writing, be specific about whether you are "deactivating" a feature, "disabling" a safety mechanism, or "removing" a component.

Linguistic Context

The word "disabling" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund of the verb "disable". It describes the action of making something inoperative or ineffective. Ludwig provides numerous examples in which "disabling" modifies nouns or acts as a verb in continuous tenses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "disabling" is a versatile word primarily used as a present participle or gerund, signifying the action of rendering something inoperative. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it frequently appears in contexts such as News & Media and Science, indicating a neutral to professional register. Ludwig AI indicates that the word is correct and usable in written English. When writing, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey and opt for more precise alternatives like "deactivating" or "neutralizing", especially in technical contexts. Avoid overuse by ensuring that you are accurately depicting the process of rendering something unable to function.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deactivating

Focuses on making something inactive rather than causing a permanent inability.

incapacitating

Implies a temporary or permanent loss of ability to function, often in a physical sense.

neutralizing

Suggests rendering something ineffective or harmless.

rendering inoperative

A more formal way of saying disabling, often used in technical contexts.

taking offline

Specifically refers to removing something from an active, online state.

shutting down

Implies a controlled cessation of operation.

putting out of action

Emphasizes preventing something from performing its intended function.

immobilizing

Highlights making something unable to move or be moved.

disabling functionality

Focuses on the act of removing specific features or capabilities.

rendering useless

Emphasizes the complete loss of utility or purpose.

FAQs

How is "disabling" used in a sentence?

The term "disabling" is used to describe the act of making something inoperative or ineffective. For example, "They are "disabling the alarm system" to prevent it from sounding."

What are some synonyms for "disabling"?

Alternatives for "disabling" include "deactivating", "incapacitating", and "neutralizing". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "disabling" and "deactivating"?

"Disabling" often implies a more permanent or significant cessation of function, while "deactivating" suggests a temporary or easily reversible state. For example, you might deactivate a feature in software but disable a safety mechanism.

When should I use "disabling" over other similar terms?

Use "disabling" when you want to emphasize that something has been rendered unable to perform its intended function, often due to a deliberate action. Terms like "deactivating" or "suspending" might be more appropriate for temporary states.