paralyze

1 of 2

verb

par·​a·​lyze ˈper-ə-ˌlīz 

ˈpa-rə-

paralyzed; paralyzing

transitive verb

1

: to affect with paralysis

The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.

2

: to make powerless or ineffective

A strike would paralyze the industry.

3

: unnerve

The paralyzing thing is the uncertainty …

—Evelyn Whitehead

4

: stun, stupefy

I would paralyze the empire with the news!

—Rudyard Kipling

5

: to bring to an end : prevent, destroy

… deadlock paralyzed action.

—F. A. Ogg and Harold Zink

paralyzation

ˌper-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌpa-rə-

noun

paralyzer

ˈper-ə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈpa-rə-

noun

paralyzingly

ˈper-ə-ˌlī-ziŋ-lē 

ˈpa-rə

adverb

paralyzation

2 of 2

noun

par·​a·​ly·​za·​tion ˌparələ̇ˈzāshən 

-ˌlīˈz-

plural -s

: paralyzed state

the paralyzation of the forces of law and order

also : the act or process of paralyzing

Synonyms of paralyze

Verb

• cripple
• incapacitate
• undermine
• weaken
• immobilize
• disable

Examples of paralyze in a Sentence

Verb

The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.

The air strikes have paralyzed the city's transportation system.

The company was paralyzed by debt.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Silva and his mother did not have easy lives, even before he was paralyzed. — Trevor Morgan, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

In June of this year, a northern Colorado city agreed to pay $675,000 to settle a lawsuit after police shot and paralyzed Herkimer, a healthy 14-month-old family dog who was later euthanized because of his injuries. — Vanessa Shakib, Oc Register, 23 July 2026

Years after becoming paralyzed, Flower knows that new obstacles will continue to arise. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026

Airpower should be assessed by the strategic effects it is tasked to achieve—disrupting enemy systems, paralyzing command, destroying key capabilities, etc. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French paralyser, back-formation from paralysie paralysis, from Latin paralysis

First Known Use

Verb

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for paralyze

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

paralyze

verb

par·​a·​lyze ˈpar-ə-ˌlīz 

paralyzed; paralyzing

1

: to affect with paralysis

2

: to make powerless or unable to act, function, or move

Medical Definition

paralyze

transitive verb

par·​a·​lyze

variants or British paralyse

ˈpar-ə-ˌlīz 

paralyzed or British paralysed; paralyzing or British paralysing

: to affect with paralysis

paralyzation noun

or British paralysation

ˌpar-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən