as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
town councils felt immobilized by the powers newly granted to the state legislation
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Recent Examples of immobilize
Meteorologists said the storm is the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the metropolitan Northeast, shattering accumulation records in places, immobilizing transit and even leading the United Nations to postpone a Security Council meeting.
—
Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Meteorologists said the storm is the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in parts of the metropolitan Northeast, shattering accumulation records in places, immobilizing transit and even leading the United Nations to postpone a Security Council meeting.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The vehicle was immobilized when another patrol car slammed into it near the Lake Junaluska Golf Course, officials said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026
Gray Davis, 23, of Fort Lauderdale, recently posted a video of himself capturing and cooking an iguana that was immobilized during Florida's recent frigid temperatures.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for immobilize
Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Meteorologists said the storm is the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in parts of the metropolitan Northeast, shattering accumulation records in places, immobilizing transit and even leading the United Nations to postpone a Security Council meeting.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The vehicle was immobilized when another patrol car slammed into it near the Lake Junaluska Golf Course, officials said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026
Gray Davis, 23, of Fort Lauderdale, recently posted a video of himself capturing and cooking an iguana that was immobilized during Florida's recent frigid temperatures.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for immobilize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for immobilize
Verb
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And when in doubt or if you’re paralyzed with the paradox of two choices, stick to room temperature.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
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Locals take photos of two bulk carriers anchored in Muscat, Oman, March 25, 2026, as Tehran keeps international maritime traffic largely paralyzed in the Strait of Hormuz amid the war.—
Ramy Inocencio,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One was incapacitated and recovering from surgery at a Carmichael surgery center in April 2011.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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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
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Iranian missile attacks this month crippled a key industrial center in Qatar, which produces about one-third of the world’s helium.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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By the mid-1980s, both sides were targeting oil shipments to cripple each other’s economies.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kent’s departure quickly became a flashpoint inside conservative media, with some praising him for taking a stand and others accusing him of undermining the administration during wartime.—
Steve Mollman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Time for Warren Buffett to get the owners in the Casa Grande ballroom and run a cost-benefit analysis on the value of undermining the league’s integrity in a sport in bed with gambling against the price of paying officials.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Immobilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immobilize. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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