paralyzed
adjective
par·a·lyzed
ˈper-ə-ˌlīzd 
ˈpa-rə-
1
: affected with paralysis
If the right hemisphere of the brain is badly damaged in its sensory (parietal) areas, patients may show … an unawareness that anything is the matter, even though the left side of their body is senseless or paralyzed.—
Oliver Sacks
Oliver SacksThousands of paralyzed people worldwide are in the socially closed-off state.—Christen Brownlee
Christen Brownlee2
: rendered incapable of movement or action
I was not found by the teacher until what seemed to me hours later but was probably five minutes, paralyzed with fright.—Kay Boyle
Kay BoyleThose who uncover plagiarism become paralyzed with embarrassment, letting the culprit escape rather than confronting him.—Walter Kendrick
Walter KendrickExamples of paralyzed in a Sentence
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared
Recent Examples on the Web
In the past, contestants have admitted to experiencing a wide range of emotions in this particularly vulnerable moment: overwhelmed, nervous, paralyzed, and yeah, even terrified.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 13 June 2025
Morgan learned that her husband was effectively paralyzed and unable to speak.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) In Oliver Stone's harrowing war drama, Cruise plays Ron Kovic, a real-life Marine veteran who, in his autobiography Born on the Fourth of July, documented his worldview's radical shift after enlisting in the Vietnam War and becoming paralyzed on the battlefield.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025
The other large potential liability, according to the memo, involved Neuralink, a company developing a brain-computer interface that allows paralyzed people to communicate via their thoughts or brain waves.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
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Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 13 June 2025
Morgan learned that her husband was effectively paralyzed and unable to speak.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) In Oliver Stone's harrowing war drama, Cruise plays Ron Kovic, a real-life Marine veteran who, in his autobiography Born on the Fourth of July, documented his worldview's radical shift after enlisting in the Vietnam War and becoming paralyzed on the battlefield.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 May 2025
The other large potential liability, according to the memo, involved Neuralink, a company developing a brain-computer interface that allows paralyzed people to communicate via their thoughts or brain waves.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyzed. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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