incapacitate

verb

ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt How to pronounce incapacitate (audio)
Definition of incapacitatenext
1
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to the stroke left her completely incapacitated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incapacitate As the most unlikely scenario becomes a reality, the Walloon minister-president is incapacitated, and his daughter must sign documents in his name. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 19 May 2026 There's an apocryphal story about its creations; supposedly Kryptonite was invented so Superman's voice actor Bud Collyer could take vacations while the Man of Steel was incapacitated. — James Grebey, Time, 26 June 2026 Airbus UpNext's DragonFly project is developing AI that manages complex emergencies autonomously when the crew is incapacitated. — Tanya Eves, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 According to the law enforcement investigation, Garcia activated her Taser seven times in a row in about a minute, with the State Patrol concluding that three to four of those activations occurred after Tomlinson was already incapacitated by the initial Taser deployments. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
  1. paralyze
  2. cripple
  3. undermine
  4. injure
  5. maim
  6. wound
  7. disable
  8. kill
Verb
  • Once injected with venom, the prey is paralyzed and drained of bodily fluids.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
  • The storm paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine and even some parts of Canada from March 12 to March 14.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of paralyze
Verb
  • Sanctions on remittance and food delivery apps could further cripple the island nation, María José Espinosa, executive director of the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas, said.
    — Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • As a result, teams across the league have become more wary about handing out big-money, long-term deals in free agency, as one mistake has the potential to cripple a franchise.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of cripple
Verb
  • Context that undermines sensational allegations is minimized.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • Allies include Brin’s Building a Better California, which is bankrolling two counter-measures aimed at undermining the billionaire tax.
    — Ben Paviour July 2, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • On Sunday, Russia bombarded Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv with dozens of missiles and hundreds of strike drones, killing at least 11 and injuring scores more, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and media reports.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • The shootings, which also injured four people, occurred at two Fourth of July block parties about two miles apart, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of injure
Verb
  • The attack only maims Aegon, who is left bedridden and unable to walk on his own.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 June 2026
  • Towards the end of the season, Chris relapses and starts using again, leading to a car crash that leaves him maimed, giving Tony no other option but to whack his underling.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Definition of maim
Verb
  • He is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the airstrike that killed his father.
    — Nasser Karimi, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • He reportedly was wounded in the attack that killed his father and has not been seen publicly since the war began.
    — NASSER KARIMI, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026
Definition of wound
Verb
  • The enormous kinetic energy generated by the impact is sufficient to destroy or disable the target without carrying a large explosive payload.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
  • Bright Angel was the first site SHERLOC examined after a dust-cover anomaly disabled its focusing mechanism, forcing the team to adopt a new operating mode.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026
Definition of disable
Verb
  • Massive explosions lit up the night sky as ballistic missiles and drones hammered parts of the city, killing at least 14 people in the city and three others in the surrounding region, with dozens more wounded, city officials said.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Alicent and Helaena will be held prisoner until Aemond is found and killed.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of kill

Browse Nearby Words

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incapacitate
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Cite this Entry

“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on incapacitate

Nglish: Translation of incapacitate for Spanish Speakers

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