incapacitate

verb

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 

incapacitated; incapacitating

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of capacity or natural power : disable

an injury that incapacitated her

learned how to incapacitate an attacker

2

: to make legally incapable or ineligible

Infancy does not incapacitate the infant from bringing the action …

—Henry v. City of New York, 724 N.E.2d 372 (1999)

incapacitation

ˌin-kə-ˌpa-sə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of incapacitate

• paralyze
• cripple
• undermine

Examples of incapacitate in a Sentence

The class teaches you how to incapacitate an attacker.

The stroke left her completely incapacitated.

He was incapacitated by the pain.

a computer system incapacitated by software problems

Recent Examples on the Web

The Vatican has no specific rules on how the leadership of the Catholic Church is transferred should the pope be incapacitated. — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Medical advances and popes’ longer lifespans, however, have highlighted this gap in church law and prompted calls for the Vatican to prepare for a pope becoming too ill or incapacitated to govern. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Levin said that nothing could justify Lewie’s firing several shots at McConnell after he was incapacitated on the ground. — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026

Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh (played by Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer hired to finish the bestselling book series of renowned author Verity Crawford after an accident leaves her incapacitated. — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for incapacitate

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate
• isocyanate

Kids Definition

incapacitate

verb

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpas-ə-ˌtāt 

incapacitated; incapacitating

: to make incapable : disable

incapacitation

-ˌpas-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

incapacitate

transitive verb

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 

incapacitated; incapacitating

1

: to make legally incapable or ineligible

mental illness alone will not incapacitate a person from making a valid contract

—Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)

2

: to deprive of capacity or natural power

an injury that incapacitates the employee

incapacitation

-ˌpa-sə-ˈtā-shən 

noun