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
Lorenzo confronts and incapacitates Pepe, Sonia’s main ally, before facing Sonia herself.
—
Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Laser strikes can potentially incapacitate pilots and put thousands of people at risk, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Another note that came up in the responses to this question is that everyone, of any age, should make sure that there are plans in place for a friend or relative to take care of the dog if the owner is incapacitated or dies.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel needs to incapacitate Hamas in the city to avoid a repeat of the October 7 attack that ignited the war.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
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Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Laser strikes can potentially incapacitate pilots and put thousands of people at risk, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Another note that came up in the responses to this question is that everyone, of any age, should make sure that there are plans in place for a friend or relative to take care of the dog if the owner is incapacitated or dies.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel needs to incapacitate Hamas in the city to avoid a repeat of the October 7 attack that ignited the war.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 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
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