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
Now in her 21st year in office, Howard recalled the warmth and support that came her way in 2019 from her House colleagues when her husband was stricken with the incapacitating illness that would claim his life the following year.
—
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The woman said she was incapacitated after a night of heavy drinking and was unable to give consent.
—CBS News, 3 July 2025
He was found guilty this week after a two-and-a-half week trial where the victim testified she was incapacitated after heavy drinking at the party and unable to provide consent.
—Chris Biderman
july 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2025
Article 111 of Iran’s constitution, which is modelled on French and Belgian law, calls for a troika—made up of the President, the judiciary chief, and a cleric from the Guardian Council—to assume the duties of the leader if he is incapacitated or dismissed.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
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John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The woman said she was incapacitated after a night of heavy drinking and was unable to give consent.
—CBS News, 3 July 2025
He was found guilty this week after a two-and-a-half week trial where the victim testified she was incapacitated after heavy drinking at the party and unable to provide consent.
—Chris Biderman
july 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2025
Article 111 of Iran’s constitution, which is modelled on French and Belgian law, calls for a troika—made up of the President, the judiciary chief, and a cleric from the Guardian Council—to assume the duties of the leader if he is incapacitated or dismissed.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 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 22 Aug. 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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