plural palsies
1
: paralysis
—used chiefly in combination
oculomotor palsy
see bell's palsy, cerebral palsy
2
: a condition that is marked by uncontrollable tremor and quivering of the body or one or more of its parts
—not used technically
… an involuntary shake that was to prove the prelude to age's palsy.—
Angus Wilson
Angus WilsonExamples of palsy in a Sentence
Noun
palsy can sometimes be caused by a brain injury
Adjective
the salesman changed his palsy attitude when he realized that I wasn't buying
Recent Examples on the Web
Grace Gavilanes, People.com, 31 July 2025
The Emmy-winning composer died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles following an eight-year battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Clausen’s daughter told the Hollywood Reporter.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025
Sarah Klein, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2017
Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 1 Aug. 2025
Those can include Bell’s palsy (facial nerve paralysis), Lyme meningitis (often marked by severe headache, neck stiffness and fever) and carditis (inflammation of heart tissues).
—Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for palsy
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Noun
Symptoms can include a rash and flu-like symptoms, with some people going on to experience arthritis, facial palsy, pain, irregular heartbeats and other worsening symptoms.
—Grace Gavilanes, People.com, 31 July 2025
The Emmy-winning composer died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles following an eight-year battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Clausen’s daughter told the Hollywood Reporter.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025
Verb
Things Became Difficult’ A doctor can usually diagnose Bell’s palsy just by looking at a person, but may decide to do a blood test, MRI, or CT scan to rule out other causes of facial paralysis, like diabetes or tumors.
—Sarah Klein, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2017
Adjective
The disease's later stages can include arthritis, heart palpitations, facial palsy and tingling limbs.
—Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 1 Aug. 2025
Those can include Bell’s palsy (facial nerve paralysis), Lyme meningitis (often marked by severe headache, neck stiffness and fever) and carditis (inflammation of heart tissues).
—Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for palsy
Cite this Entry
“Palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palsy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
palsy
noun
pal·sy
ˈpȯl-zē 
plural palsies
1
: paralysis
—used chiefly in combination
oculomotor palsy
see bell's palsy, cerebral palsy
2
: a condition that is characterized by uncontrollable tremor or quivering of the body or one or more of its parts
—not used technically
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