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
The standoff has paralyzed one of the council’s most consequential bodies and left a growing backlog of zoning proposals in limbo as the committee reviews zoning changes required to begin construction projects of all kinds across the city.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
In May 2024, a cyberattack paralyzed many of the organization’s digital resources, affecting electronic medical records systems, prescriptions and refills, credit card payments, processing of electronic lab and radiology orders and access to its patient portal online.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The bullet pierced the 49-year-old guard’s spine, according to prosecutors, who said the victim endured seven hours of surgery and may be paralyzed.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Orbán has long been a thorn in the side of the EU, and has tested the bloc’s system of governance by frequently using his veto power to paralyze decision-making in order to leverage concessions.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
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Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
In May 2024, a cyberattack paralyzed many of the organization’s digital resources, affecting electronic medical records systems, prescriptions and refills, credit card payments, processing of electronic lab and radiology orders and access to its patient portal online.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The bullet pierced the 49-year-old guard’s spine, according to prosecutors, who said the victim endured seven hours of surgery and may be paralyzed.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Orbán has long been a thorn in the side of the EU, and has tested the bloc’s system of governance by frequently using his veto power to paralyze decision-making in order to leverage concessions.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyze. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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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