1
as in disabled
affected with paralysis
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crippled
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frightened
to deprive of courage or confidence
the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paralyzed
Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Salvador Murillo pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by a peace officer for shooting an unarmed man in the back in 2020, leaving him paralyzed.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Among the suitors vying for her affection were Brad Ledford, who was the driver in the car accident that paralyzed former congressman Madison Cawthorn; Another, Clayton Johnson, was formerly engaged to Lana Del Rey.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
These thermal baths in Palm Springs, stewarded by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for more than five millennia and long considered a portal to the spiritual underworld and a place of healing, welcomed my paralyzed body.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Salvador Murillo pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by a peace officer for shooting an unarmed man in the back in 2020, leaving him paralyzed.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
Its drone and missile attacks on neighboring countries and on container ships hoping to transit the Strait of Hormuz have paralyzed the Persian Gulf region.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Among the suitors vying for her affection were Brad Ledford, who was the driver in the car accident that paralyzed former congressman Madison Cawthorn; Another, Clayton Johnson, was formerly engaged to Lana Del Rey.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
-
In Los Angeles, activists have documented robots overturned or disabled in public spaces.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Today, Rancho Cordova offers multiple affordable housing options, including Mather Veterans Village for homeless and disabled veterans in the Sacramento region.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Operating up top, Hagens fed Gasseau down low on the right side and Gasseau zipped a perfect cross-ice pass to Letourneau, who ripped it past a helpless Muszelik.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Still helpless in the face of her new, ultrapublic life, and at a loss for how to re-center herself and her needs and wants within it, Carolyn has been spending most of her time in the loft.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bridge collapse shut down the main shipping channel to the Port of Baltimore and crippled many businesses.—
Caroline Foreback,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Companies that export goods to, or import them from, the Middle East are crippled, as global supply chains are interrupted.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Facing cameras and a swath of media in her tiny hometown, Long Rife was not frightened by the prospect of moving cross-country.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Health officials identified a paralytic polio case in 2022 in an unvaccinated adult in New York.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The paralytic effect typically lasts for four to six minutes.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
An atmospheric river should track across California, even into southern California, by Tuesday, March 31, but is currently forecast to remain too weak to cause flooding issues, the WPC said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One was incapacitated and recovering from surgery at a Carmichael surgery center in April 2011.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
At the time, the DA's office said Lynch's status would be reviewed in one year, unless he is found to be no longer incapacitated before then.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since his detainment, Maria said that she's been terrified of leaving the home.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Patrick could move there tomorrow, but Russell has to be terrified of every sound.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
