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
In November 2024, Morrissey claimed Williams was deemed permanently incapacitated in a court filing.
—
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Aug. 2025
The allegation of being rapidly incapacitated by a glass of wine has an echo in another incident Levy included in her report, an accusation of rape and drugging made against Wang in 2006.
—Sammy Sussman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Although the extent of the damage is still being assessed, initial readouts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and from independent experts suggest that Iran’s enrichment capability has been heavily degraded or even fully incapacitated.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
At some point, Kevin, dazed but not incapacitated, got on the line with a dispatcher.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
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.
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 13 Aug. 2025
The allegation of being rapidly incapacitated by a glass of wine has an echo in another incident Levy included in her report, an accusation of rape and drugging made against Wang in 2006.
—Sammy Sussman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Although the extent of the damage is still being assessed, initial readouts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and from independent experts suggest that Iran’s enrichment capability has been heavily degraded or even fully incapacitated.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
At some point, Kevin, dazed but not incapacitated, got on the line with a dispatcher.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 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 27 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share