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 WilsonExamples 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 Web
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025
For example, in the hand tendon-transfer surgery for high median-ulnar palsy, one muscle is sutured to all four finger flexor tendons.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Mar. 2018
Sarah Klein, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2017
Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
The company will reduce its workforce by approximately 70% and prioritize funding its ongoing studies of an experimental drug for Wolfram syndrome and supranuclear palsy – both rare neurodegenerative disorders – and another experimental drug for ALS, according to the news release.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for palsy
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Noun
The Emmy-winning composer died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles following an eight-year battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Clausen’s daughter told the Hollywood Reporter.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025
For example, in the hand tendon-transfer surgery for high median-ulnar palsy, one muscle is sutured to all four finger flexor tendons.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Mar. 2018
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
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and progressive bulbar palsy are both examples of motor neuron diseases.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
The company will reduce its workforce by approximately 70% and prioritize funding its ongoing studies of an experimental drug for Wolfram syndrome and supranuclear palsy – both rare neurodegenerative disorders – and another experimental drug for ALS, according to the news release.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for palsy
Cite this Entry
“Palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palsy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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