immobilize

verb

im·mo·bi·lize i-ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz

immobilized; immobilizing; immobilizes

Synonyms of immobilize next

transitive verb

: to make immobile: such as

: to reduce or eliminate motion of (the body or a part) by mechanical means or by strict bed rest

: to prevent freedom of movement or effective use of

the planes were immobilized by bad weather

: to withhold (money or capital) from circulation

immobilization

i-ˌmō-bə-lə-ˈzā-shən

noun

immobilizer

i-ˈmō-bə-ˌlī-zər

noun

Example Sentences

Doctors immobilized her wrist by putting it in a cast. I was immobilized by fear.

Recent Examples on the Web That suggests their bodies were toning down the production of this protein in response to being immobilized. —

Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 13 Apr. 2023 Olivia Lubarsky showed up to Towson University her freshman year in 2017 shouldering the weight of high-functioning depression stemming from an immobilizing fear of failure. —

Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2023 The case of Michael Adelson, who sued the company for $285, involved accusations that PES wrongfully immobilized his vehicle and demanded payment to retrieve it. —

Heather Gann | Hgann@al.com, al, 16 Mar. 2023 She was placed on a stretcher with her knee immobilized and made a heart sign with her hands while being carted off the field. —

Jeré Longman, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2023 The gel keeps the vagina’s pH, which ordinarily increases in the presence of semen, at its usual level, and thus essentially immobilizes sperm. —

Maria Aspan, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023 From there, researchers explained that by immobilizing Huc on an electrode, its electrons can subsequently transfer into an electrical circuit to generate current. —

Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Mar. 2023 Another inmate in the lawsuit described being put in a restraint chair — a chair with arm, leg and shoulder restraints and sometimes hoods or helmets designed to immobilize someone — for 28 hours straight during a mental health episode, with no food or bathroom breaks. —

Claudia Lauer, Star Tribune, 15 Sep. 2020 Steger, who apparently had fallen down a tree well, was completely immobilized by the mound of snow. —

The Oregonian/oregonlive Public Safety Team, oregonlive, 31 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immobilize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.