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
This decrease signifies a substantial revenue gap that could have incapacitated many companies.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Near the Bering Strait, the crew spotted the Brunswick, incapacitated after striking ice and surrounded by other whalers preparing to buy off its goods.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
With his father incapacitated, Jim Irsay became general manager and chief operating officer in 1996.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Most states require adults to appoint someone to make medical decisions, including authorizing treatment, if they become incapacitated.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
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Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Near the Bering Strait, the crew spotted the Brunswick, incapacitated after striking ice and surrounded by other whalers preparing to buy off its goods.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
With his father incapacitated, Jim Irsay became general manager and chief operating officer in 1996.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Most states require adults to appoint someone to make medical decisions, including authorizing treatment, if they become incapacitated.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 15 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 10 Jul. 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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