paralyze
verb
par·a·lyze
ˈper-ə-ˌlīz 
ˈpa-rə-
paralyzed; paralyzing
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
Evelyn WhiteheadExamples of paralyze in a Sentence
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
Their meet-cute involves a pterodactyl, a number of plants that shoot paralyzing needles, and a nest in which Thia has been imprisoned.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
At least a million monkeys died in the race to develop vaccines for polio, which had previously paralyzed thousands of children each year.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Scientists have recorded the whales inducing what’s known as a state of tonic immobility, essentially paralyzing the shark.
—Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
At least a million monkeys died in the race to develop vaccines for polio, which had previously paralyzed thousands of children each year.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Scientists have recorded the whales inducing what’s known as a state of tonic immobility, essentially paralyzing the shark.
—Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyze. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
paralyzed or British paralysed; paralyzing or British paralysing
: to affect with paralysis
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