plural palsies
1
: paralysis
—used chiefly in combination
oculomotor palsy
see bell's palsy, cerebral palsy
2
: a condition that is marked by uncontrollable tremor and quivering of the body or one or more of its parts
—not used technically
… an involuntary shake that was to prove the prelude to age's palsy.—
Angus Wilson
Angus Wilson
Synonyms
Examples of palsy in a Sentence
Noun
palsy can sometimes be caused by a brain injury
Adjective
the salesman changed his palsy attitude when he realized that I wasn't buying
Recent Examples on the WebGrace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
With time, the headaches, rashes, and neck stiffness can worsen, and infected people can develop painful arthritis, facial palsy, heart palpitations, and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, the agency said on its website.
—Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
My symptoms — which came suddenly, and have included trouble swallowing solid food, a paralyzed left vocal cord, Bell’s palsy, and partial hearing loss — have left me physically exhausted and emotionally rattled.
—Carmen Cusido, refinery29.com, 17 June 2022
Court records indicate that the CFSA got involved with the baby after she was born with traces of cocaine in her urine and brachial plexus palsy, which caused muscle paralysis in her right arm.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 27 May 2023
If left untreated, the symptoms can be more severe including heart palpitations, arthritis, and facial palsy.
—Devika Rao, The Week, 25 Apr. 2023
Levi Wallace played cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2022 NFL season even though he was stricken by Bell’s palsy during the campaign, adding another layer of evidence testifying to his ability to overcome obstacles on the football field.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 25 Mar. 2023
Scientists have said that the number of people who developed Bell’s palsy - 4 in a group of 22,000 - is consistent with the number of people who have the disease in the actual population, and may have nothing to do with the vaccine, according to PolitiFact.
—Rachel Lerman, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Dec. 2020
Bell’s palsy, a disorder that affects the movement of muscles in the face, is listed as a rare side effect, affecting up to one in 1,000 people, for the Moderna and Janssen vaccines.
—Molly Stellino, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2023
Sarah Klein, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2017
Chris Richards, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
Like 50 Cent before him, Conway the Machine has an origin story worthy of a gangsta rap superhero: a 2012 shooting that left him with Bell’s palsy, facial paralysis, a slur and a new sense of purpose.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023
But those who develop symptoms such as facial palsy, swollen joints, or arthritis as a result of longer term infections may produce enough immunity to protect to some extent against additional infections.
—Alice Park, Time, 15 Aug. 2023
Robert De Niro’s partner Tiffany Chen has revealed that she was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy after giving birth in April.
—Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2023
The team achieved an early victory in genomic medicine with the 14-year-old Beery twins, who suffered from a palsy-like movement disorder.
—Guest Blogger, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2013
Shingles could also cause this sort of palsy, but the patient didn’t have other symptoms of the illness so that seemed unlikely.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 29 Sep. 2022
Now for the heartbreaker — Neil says the song’s unintelligible vocals are meant to represent his son with cerebral-palsy’s inability to communicate.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 20 July 2022
Whalen, 82, died of progressive supranuclear palsy June 20 in his home in the Kenwood neighborhood, said his daughter, Ann.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022
See More
Noun
Symptoms can include a rash and flu-like symptoms, with some people going on to experience arthritis, facial palsy, pain, irregular heartbeats and other worsening symptoms.
—Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
With time, the headaches, rashes, and neck stiffness can worsen, and infected people can develop painful arthritis, facial palsy, heart palpitations, and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, the agency said on its website.
—Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
My symptoms — which came suddenly, and have included trouble swallowing solid food, a paralyzed left vocal cord, Bell’s palsy, and partial hearing loss — have left me physically exhausted and emotionally rattled.
—Carmen Cusido, refinery29.com, 17 June 2022
Court records indicate that the CFSA got involved with the baby after she was born with traces of cocaine in her urine and brachial plexus palsy, which caused muscle paralysis in her right arm.
—Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 27 May 2023
If left untreated, the symptoms can be more severe including heart palpitations, arthritis, and facial palsy.
—Devika Rao, The Week, 25 Apr. 2023
Levi Wallace played cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2022 NFL season even though he was stricken by Bell’s palsy during the campaign, adding another layer of evidence testifying to his ability to overcome obstacles on the football field.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 25 Mar. 2023
Scientists have said that the number of people who developed Bell’s palsy - 4 in a group of 22,000 - is consistent with the number of people who have the disease in the actual population, and may have nothing to do with the vaccine, according to PolitiFact.
—Rachel Lerman, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Dec. 2020
Bell’s palsy, a disorder that affects the movement of muscles in the face, is listed as a rare side effect, affecting up to one in 1,000 people, for the Moderna and Janssen vaccines.
—Molly Stellino, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2023
Verb
Things Became Difficult’ A doctor can usually diagnose Bell’s palsy just by looking at a person, but may decide to do a blood test, MRI, or CT scan to rule out other causes of facial paralysis, like diabetes or tumors.
—Sarah Klein, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2017
Adjective
Through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Conway the Machine at 9:30 Club
Like 50 Cent before him, Conway the Machine has an origin story worthy of a gangsta rap superhero: a 2012 shooting that left him with Bell’s palsy, facial paralysis, a slur and a new sense of purpose.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
Like 50 Cent before him, Conway the Machine has an origin story worthy of a gangsta rap superhero: a 2012 shooting that left him with Bell’s palsy, facial paralysis, a slur and a new sense of purpose.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2023
But those who develop symptoms such as facial palsy, swollen joints, or arthritis as a result of longer term infections may produce enough immunity to protect to some extent against additional infections.
—Alice Park, Time, 15 Aug. 2023
Robert De Niro’s partner Tiffany Chen has revealed that she was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy after giving birth in April.
—Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2023
The team achieved an early victory in genomic medicine with the 14-year-old Beery twins, who suffered from a palsy-like movement disorder.
—Guest Blogger, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2013
Shingles could also cause this sort of palsy, but the patient didn’t have other symptoms of the illness so that seemed unlikely.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 29 Sep. 2022
Now for the heartbreaker — Neil says the song’s unintelligible vocals are meant to represent his son with cerebral-palsy’s inability to communicate.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 20 July 2022
Whalen, 82, died of progressive supranuclear palsy June 20 in his home in the Kenwood neighborhood, said his daughter, Ann.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'palsy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English palesie, alteration of parlesey, from Anglo-French paralisie, from Latin paralysis
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1615, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1951, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of palsy was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing palsy
Dictionary Entries Near palsy
Cite this Entry
“Palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palsy. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
palsy
noun
pal·sy
ˈpȯl-zē
1
2
: a condition marked by uncontrollable trembling or shaking of the body or a part (as the head or hands)
Medical Definition
palsy
noun
pal·sy
ˈpȯl-zē 
plural palsies
1
: paralysis
—used chiefly in combination
oculomotor palsy
see bell's palsy, cerebral palsy
2
: a condition that is characterized by uncontrollable tremor or quivering of the body or one or more of its parts
—not used technically
More from Merriam-Webster on palsy
Nglish: Translation of palsy for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of palsy for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about palsy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share