incapacitate

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

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Examples: incapacitate in a Sentence

Definition of incapacitate

incapacitated; incapacitating

transitive verb

1 : to make legally incapable or ineligible

2 : to deprive of capacity or natural power : disable

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incapacitation

play \ˌin-kə-ˌpa-sə-ˈtā-shən\ noun

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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 of incapacitate from the Web

Trump is not incapacitated by brain damage; but he is debilitated by nigh-superhuman sloth and incuriosity.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Briefing Book Includes ‘Screen Grabs of Cable-News Chyrons’," 8 June 2018
In May 2017, the board found ASU had not properly established that the woman was incapacitated, but that Doe had used force in the encounter.

— rachel leingang, azcentral, "Lawsuit claims male ASU student was improperly expelled for sexual misconduct," 31 May 2018
Fear of serious illness, of being incapacitated, losing consciousness, losing control.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "'Saw' mastermind Leigh Whannell on his new sci-fi movie, and why horror people are happy people.," 30 May 2018
Cold water can incapacitate even the best swimmers.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Boise River flows increased, 'dangerous condition' warning issued by city | Idaho Statesman," 25 May 2018
Conley’s office said Cintolo was incapacitated by his injuries, and Morris and Officer Eric Schmidt returned fire as Figueroa retreated to a darkened bedroom and armed himself with a Kel-Tec tactical 12-gauge shotgun.

— travis andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "Suffolk DA: Officers were justified in fatal shooting of East Boston man," 7 May 2018
When someone becomes incapacitated or arrested, what does the NOPD do with a pet who may be with them?

— chelsea brasted, NOLA.com, "A lost bird, a bike crash and 2 good Samaritans: How a New Orleans parrot got back home," 2 May 2018
If the offending party has no remorse, fails to apologize or is inaccessible (won’t respond, incapacitated, deceased, etc.), that doesn’t prevent us from letting go of that hot coal of resentment.

— philip chard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Forgiveness heals bitterness that corrodes the soul," 11 Jan. 2018
The safety panel's presentation said Chappell was likely incapacitated, given his history of seizures and penchant for not disclosing his health complications.

— jonathan mattise, baltimoresun.com, "Federal board recommends seatbelts on all new school buses after deadly crashes, including one in Baltimore," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incapacitate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.