This is the 12970th most frequent Russian word.
лишают
"Deprive" or "take away."
The word 'лишают' is used here in the sense of taking away or depriving someone of a right or privilege.
Закон лишает их права голосовать.
The law deprives them of the right to vote.
Here, 'лишают' indicates being deprived of a capability or ability due to an external factor.
Стресс лишает нас возможности сосредоточиться.
Stress deprives us of the ability to concentrate.
In this sentence, 'лишают' refers to someone losing an abstract concept such as hope due to circumstances.