incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 
incapacitated; incapacitating
Synonyms
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
One was convicted of a nonviolent drug crime, and the other four were either terminally ill or were physically incapacitated and required 24/7 care.
—
Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Instead, the agency pointed to the risks of a single crew member becoming incapacitated and the benefits of crew members being able to work together in emergency situations as justifying the rule.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Israel’s deputy prime minister and justice minister, Yariv Levin, will step in for Netanyahu while he is incapacitated.
—Tamar Michaelis, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
The likely approach for implementing Senate Bill 43, the state’s new law that expands involuntary treatment for those incapacitated by substance use, gained some clarity Tuesday.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Provide reasonable on-going medical or insurance assistance for student-athletes who suffer an incapacitating injury in competition or practice.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
Criminals incapacitated and robbed over three dozen victims after gaining access to their phones, prosecutors alleged, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 11 Mar. 2024
Shining a laser at an airplane can incapacitate the pilot, leading to injuries and putting passengers at risk.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
For three weeks, the legislature was effectively incapacitated, at a time when the United States was involved in two overseas wars.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Instead, the agency pointed to the risks of a single crew member becoming incapacitated and the benefits of crew members being able to work together in emergency situations as justifying the rule.
—Tony Romm, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Israel’s deputy prime minister and justice minister, Yariv Levin, will step in for Netanyahu while he is incapacitated.
—Tamar Michaelis, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
The likely approach for implementing Senate Bill 43, the state’s new law that expands involuntary treatment for those incapacitated by substance use, gained some clarity Tuesday.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Provide reasonable on-going medical or insurance assistance for student-athletes who suffer an incapacitating injury in competition or practice.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
Criminals incapacitated and robbed over three dozen victims after gaining access to their phones, prosecutors alleged, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 11 Mar. 2024
Shining a laser at an airplane can incapacitate the pilot, leading to injuries and putting passengers at risk.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
For three weeks, the legislature was effectively incapacitated, at a time when the United States was involved in two overseas wars.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incapacitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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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