financially crippled

USAGE SUMMARY

"financially crippled" is a correct expression that is used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a person or organization that is in a financially difficult situation due to debts or lack of funds. For example, "The country's economy is financially crippled due to the coronavirus pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

"We're financially crippled so can't make many transfers like the other teams," Amokachi says.

The Guardian - Sport

The charity, the Second Mile, said it had been financially crippled by the child sex abuse accusations against Sandusky.

The New York Times - Sports

Most are now back on the job, but workers who earn less than $15,000 a year can be financially crippled by even brief periods of unemployment.

The New York Times

Eight years ago, the capital was financially crippled, but there was a silver lining in the form of a booming independent arts scene.

The Guardian - Travel

But colleagues said that his faith had been weakening for years under the imperatives of running a financially crippled church, and that he had long been sexually active with men.

The New York Times

Removing the restrictions in the current agreements, she said, would unleash a wave of mergers among European airlines, which are more fragmented -- if not as financially crippled -- as their American rivals.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

The media company -- which includes sites like Deadspin, Jezebel and Gizmodo -- is understandably determined to get all the evidence possible, given that a financial settlement in the realm of what Hogan is seeking could financially cripple it.

Huffington Post

The OECD shows that the average household income in Chile is only $17,773 £11,7188) meaning that domestically families have to financially cripple themselves for tuition fees.

Independent

But in practice a fine large enough to work as a deterrent would financially cripple a company, further impairing competition and harming innocent bystanders, such as suppliers and workers.Sanctions against culpable executives ought to be more effective.

The Economist

"If it doesn't work out then they haven't committed themselves to a long lease and something that's going to financially cripple them for the next five to 10 years".

The Guardian

They argue that high-income women have sizeable financial commitments; dropping their salary so drastically during maternity leave would deter them from having children or unfairly financially cripple them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "financially crippled", ensure that the context clearly establishes the cause of the financial distress. For example, specify whether it's due to debt, mismanagement, or external economic factors.

Common error

Avoid using "financially crippled" when the situation is merely a temporary setback or minor inconvenience. The phrase implies a severe and potentially irreversible state of financial impairment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "financially crippled" functions as a compound adjective that modifies a noun, describing its state of being severely impaired or incapacitated due to financial problems. Ludwig provides examples from various sources illustrating its use in describing entities ranging from individuals to organizations and even economies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "financially crippled" is a commonly used phrase to describe severe financial distress. As Ludwig AI confirmed, the expression is correct. The phrase functions as an adjective and it is commonly found in News & Media. While it is generally appropriate for formal writing, users should be mindful of overstating the severity of the situation. Alternatives such as "bankrupt" or "financially ruined" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context. The phrase conveys a sense of significant impairment, so its application should be reserved for situations where the financial difficulties are substantial and long-lasting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

financially devastated

Emphasizes the emotional and destructive impact of financial hardship.

financially ruined

Emphasizes the end result of financial problems, indicating long-lasting negative effects.

insolvent

Describes a state of being unable to pay debts, often used in a business context.

experiencing financial ruin

Focuses on the process and outcome of losing financial stability.

bankrupt

Implies a legal declaration of inability to pay debts, often a more formal and final state than "financially crippled".

in dire financial straits

Highlights the urgency and severity of the financial difficulties.

destitute

Implies a state of extreme poverty and lacking basic necessities.

penniless

Suggests extreme poverty and lack of resources.

broke

An informal term indicating a complete lack of money.

impecunious

A formal term for lacking money; often used humorously.

FAQs

How can I use "financially crippled" in a sentence?

You can use "financially crippled" to describe a person, organization, or even an entire economy facing severe financial difficulties. For example: "The small business was "financially crippled" after the economic downturn."

What are some synonyms for "financially crippled"?

Alternatives include "bankrupt", "insolvent", "financially ruined", and "in dire financial straits". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "financially crippled" in formal writing?

Yes, it is appropriate, but consider your audience. While grammatically correct, in formal writing, you might consider using a more precise term like "insolvent" or "financially unsustainable" depending on the specific financial state you want to address.

What's the difference between "financially crippled" and "financially strained"?

"Financially strained" suggests a temporary difficulty or pressure on finances, while "financially crippled" implies a much more severe and potentially irreversible condition. Someone "financially strained" might need to budget carefully, but someone "financially crippled" may be facing bankruptcy.