incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 
incapacitated; incapacitating
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
For example, deleting the genetic region responsible for producing this toxin in E. coli can actually incapacitate the bacteria from promoting cancer in animals.
—
Will Stone, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Lasers can incapacitate pilots, many of whom are flying airplanes with hundreds of passengers.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
On top of all that, Pegula’s wife, Kim, who used to be president of both the Bills and Sabres, suffered a debilitating cardiac arrest in 2022 and was later declared legally incapacitated as a result of a brain injury caused by the cardiac arrest.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The program, now in its 23rd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and guardianship services, the release said.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
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Will Stone, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Lasers can incapacitate pilots, many of whom are flying airplanes with hundreds of passengers.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025
On top of all that, Pegula’s wife, Kim, who used to be president of both the Bills and Sabres, suffered a debilitating cardiac arrest in 2022 and was later declared legally incapacitated as a result of a brain injury caused by the cardiac arrest.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
The program, now in its 23rd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and guardianship services, the release said.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpas-ə-ˌtāt
incapacitated; incapacitating
: to make incapable : disable
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)
Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)2
: to deprive of capacity or natural power
an injury that incapacitates the employee
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