incapacitate

verb

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt How to pronounce incapacitate (audio)
incapacitated; incapacitating

transitive verb

1
: to deprive of capacity or natural power : disable
2
: to make legally incapable or ineligible
incapacitation noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He is accused of slipping incapacitating drugs into victims’ food or drinks before assaulting them between 2021 and 2024. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025 In still other situations, lapses in common knowledge can incapacitate people who really, really need to work together. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025 One caller said a delta-8 gummy incapacitated their adult son for several hours. Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Lorenzo confronts and incapacitates Pepe, Sonia’s main ally, before facing Sonia herself. Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for incapacitate

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of incapacitate was in 1657

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Cite this Entry

“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

incapacitate

verb
in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpas-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce incapacitate (audio)
incapacitated; incapacitating
: to make incapable : disable
incapacitation noun

Legal Definition

incapacitate

transitive verb
in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt How to pronounce incapacitate (audio)
incapacitated; incapacitating
1
: to make legally incapable or ineligible
mental illness alone will not incapacitate a person from making a valid contractLandmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)
2
: to deprive of capacity or natural power
an injury that incapacitates the employee
incapacitation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on incapacitate

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