Slow day at work so I'm going to geek out and list the pros and cons of Dota 2 disables.
THE TYPES OF DOTA 2 DISABLES: (arguably from best to worst)
Stun: The best kind of disable in the game. You are unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items. It also interrupts spells that the target was channeling. The downside is that the duration is understandably much shorter vs other disables. Some specific target stuns and passives go through BKB = a huge counter.
Items that grant stuns: Basher & Abyssal Blade
Hex: You are turned into a critter. You are unable to attack, cast spells, or use items. It also disables all passives with few exceptions. This is note-worthy against
evasion items and heroes. Your movement is reduced to 100, which is notably better than the totally locked stun. If you have haste rune or surged by DS, you can still move as max MS while hexed, effectively countering it.
Items that grant hex: Scythe of Vyse. This is arguably the best disable item anyone can buy (including carries). Amazing 800 casting range & instant effect (unlike Abyssal's melee range).
Silence: The enemy cannot cast spells. It basically turn you into a helpless auto-attacking creep. Silence is deadly against supports who depends on their spells, and escapists who need to use their short CD spells (Puck, Weaver, Storm). The downside is that enemies can use items to mitigate or outright dispel silence (Manta & BKB dispel it, Ghost Staff, Dagger, Force Staff, Wand, Mek, etc).
Items that grant silence: Orchid (also gives amp damage)
Slow: Your movement speed or attack speed are reduced. MS reduction is critical to survival. The slow effect is rampant in Dota and is deadly early & mid game. But it's inferior than stun & hex as the enemy can attack, cast spells, and use items.
Items that grant slow: Rod of Atos, Diffusal Blade, Shiva's Guard
Disarm: You can't attack, at all. This is a primary counter to carries.
Items that grant disarm: Heaven's Halberd.
Blind: You can miss your attacks, either by a percentage or completely. Unlike Disarm, it can be countered by MKB (Truestrike), and some passives (like Sniper's Headshot).
Item Lock: You can't use your items. There isn't a disable that only locks items in Dota currently. I wish Icefrog would explore this aspect. BKB & Hex prevents you from using items, but the most notable effect is Doom's Doom. You can't use items for a very long time.
Dota 2 is a very complex game. Lots of disables also come in multiple combinations. There are also lots of other kind of disables (Ensnare, Taunt, Ethereal, Purge, Minus Armor, Amp Damage, etc).