1
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitate
Laser strikes can potentially incapacitate pilots and put thousands of people at risk, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
—
Terry Collins, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Another note that came up in the responses to this question is that everyone, of any age, should make sure that there are plans in place for a friend or relative to take care of the dog if the owner is incapacitated or dies.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel needs to incapacitate Hamas in the city to avoid a repeat of the October 7 attack that ignited the war.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Shining a laser at a commercial aircraft is a federal crime and can incapacitate or temporarily blind pilots.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Terry Collins, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Another note that came up in the responses to this question is that everyone, of any age, should make sure that there are plans in place for a friend or relative to take care of the dog if the owner is incapacitated or dies.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel needs to incapacitate Hamas in the city to avoid a repeat of the October 7 attack that ignited the war.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Shining a laser at a commercial aircraft is a federal crime and can incapacitate or temporarily blind pilots.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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But in southern states like Georgia, Alabama, and the Carolinas, even 1 to 3 inches can paralyze roads.—
Sirena Bergman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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In May 2021, one of the largest fuel pipeline systems in the United States was paralyzed when a cyberattack brought operations to an abrupt halt.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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At the time, the blockades crippled transportation routes and hospital services and prompted international warnings about a humanitarian crisis in the country, which was reeling from a devastating earthquake.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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Since then, they've been forced to work remotely — at a time when the government was doling out return-to-office mandates — preventing access to labs and crippling the center's mission of embedding NASA climate scientists within international academia.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Adopting the Southern view, the Supreme Court issued opinions that severely undermined the legal architecture of Reconstruction.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Others tell us that AI will completely undermine society.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Across Japan, at least 13 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since April this year, according to government figures – the highest numbers since records began in 2006.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Four students and the Suburban's driver were transported to a local hospital, Murphy said, adding that the bus driver was not injured.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed and maimed in the war; a United Nations commission said in September that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
21 Oct. 2025
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By holding a button, a simple katana suddenly becomes a 10-foot blade, or a rapier sprouts a demolition-grade power drill — all capable of viscerally dismembering and maiming foes.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More than 130 people were killed in the attacks and scores more were wounded.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Nidal Hasan committed a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Activating sport mode disables one-pedal driving.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
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As an additional precaution, ticket transfers will be disabled in eligible states (sorry New York and Chicago fans), limiting potential instances for tickets to appear on secondary sites like SeatGeek and StubHub.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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Four people were killed over a four-day period in crashes on Arkansas highways, according to preliminary Arkansas State Police reports.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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