IMMOBILIZE Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

immobilize

verb

i-ˈmō-bə-ˌlīz

Definition of immobilize

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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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 immobilize The researchers chilled a rubidium-87 atom to near absolute zero and immobilized it inside an optical tweezer. — IEEE Spectrum, 21 June 2026 It was then immobilized with a tranquilizing dart. — Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Right now, for example, scientists often immobilize Danionella fish to study their brains. — Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 June 2026 Then came Week 16’s brutal late-game concussion against Jacksonville, with Bryant immobilized out of precaution and carted off in the scariest sight of the year at Empower Field. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for immobilize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for immobilize

Verb

Lindsay Clancy, who was paralyzed by the injuries from her suicide attempt, was charged with three counts of murder and strangulation in her children’s deaths.

— Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
In fact, if the knife had landed a centimeter to the left, she would have been paralyzed.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026

Definition of paralyze

Verb

Many department policies tell officers to move out of the way of a vehicle rather than shoot because of the potential harm to bystanders who could be struck by unintended gunfire or by a careening vehicle if the driver is incapacitated.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Last August, Parithad was catapulted into the position of CEO, after a court deemed Chuchat legally incapacitated.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 13 July 2026

Definition of incapacitate

Verb

Russia has been doing this since the start of the war, terrorizing Ukrainian cities with aerial assaults that have killed thousands of civilians and crippled much of the country’s energy grid for months on end.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
Washington denounces Cuba’s overseas medical missions as exploitative and presses allies to drop them, but Calabria’s governor says losing the doctors would cripple care and vows to keep them.

— Paolo Santalucia, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of cripple

Verb

Opponents, however, argue the legislation could undermine California’s leadership in the technology industry.

— Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
South Africa closed its two major refineries in 2022 after new fuel regulations undermined their commercial logic.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of undermine

Browse Nearby Words

immobility

immobilize

immobilized

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“Immobilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immobilize. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of immobilize

verb

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