as in disability
complete or partial loss of physical function (as motion or sensation) in a part of the body
the car accident left one athlete with paralysis from the waist down
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Recent Examples of paralysis
Symptoms of the more serious illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.
—
Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But the absence of leadership in Washington cannot become an excuse for paralysis.
—Bill Ritter Jr, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
When Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine became available, families waited in long lines for hours to receive it, hoping to prevent their children from having to experience paralysis or life in an iron lung.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
The amendment essentially asks political appointees to commit political career suicide while navigating a constitutional crisis — a recipe for paralysis and politicization when decisive action is needed most.
—Lynn Schmidt, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But the absence of leadership in Washington cannot become an excuse for paralysis.
—Bill Ritter Jr, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
When Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine became available, families waited in long lines for hours to receive it, hoping to prevent their children from having to experience paralysis or life in an iron lung.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
The amendment essentially asks political appointees to commit political career suicide while navigating a constitutional crisis — a recipe for paralysis and politicization when decisive action is needed most.
—Lynn Schmidt, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
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His legal practice primarily focuses on sports injuries, workers’ comp, and disability benefits, according to his law firm — areas close to home for a former athlete.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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The state of education for students with disabilities was already tenuous.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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She was charged with reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function and failure to stop at a scene of accident resulting in serious impairment or death, the prosecutor said.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
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Keep all pets with sensory impairments on a predictable schedule for feeding, potty breaks, and exercise.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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That humility will always prevail over ego, kindness isn’t a form of weakness, and true happiness isn’t measured by what’s in your bank account or even by the empty rows of your refrigerator.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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How does the relative length of our haunting reflect our collective moral strengths and weaknesses?—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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