incapacitated

adjective

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tat·​ed ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtā-təd 

: deprived of capacity or natural power : made incapable of or unfit for normal functioning

… can care for cats while the owners are away or are temporarily incapacitated and unable to care for their pets.

—Karen Commings

… when an incapacitated patient hasn't left a living will or designated someone to make his or her medical decisions, families agree on what to do anyway in about two-thirds of the cases …

—Jeff Chu et al.

Eventually, he [Washington Roebling] became bedridden, in a room that overlooked the bridge under construction, with Emily effectively serving as assistant engineer and intermediary between the incapacitated chief engineer and his lieutenants on the construction site.

—Henry Petroski

Examples of incapacitated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This means astronauts will have to diagnose, treat, and manage crises without ground support, even if a crew member becomes incapacitated. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2025

Outside of being around to break a tie in the Senate, or replacing a deceased or incapacitated president, the vice president has few duties. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 6 Oct. 2025

The injury left him temporarily mentally incapacitated – and the moment was an opportune time for a con artist to swoop in. —Forbestv, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for incapacitated

• ameliorated
• decontaminated
• deoxygenated
• deteriorated
• differentiated
• disarticulated
• excommunicated
• individuated
• misappropriated
• monounsaturated
• multinucleated
• nonaffiliated