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
The report does not present any evidence of mechanical failures or of a possible bird strike, which could have incapacitated both engines at the same time.
—
Russell Lewis, NPR, 11 July 2025
Trump's dismissal of the CNN and NBC reports comes amid concern about just how incapacitated Iran's nuclear capacity is.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Using a drone, state police were able to confirm both suspects were incapacitated in the room suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
Here’s a look at the equipment authorities have used:
Blunt-force weapons and projectiles
Authorities have used several tools that a 2025 report by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service noted for their ability to incapacitate using blunt force.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Russell Lewis, NPR, 11 July 2025
Trump's dismissal of the CNN and NBC reports comes amid concern about just how incapacitated Iran's nuclear capacity is.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Using a drone, state police were able to confirm both suspects were incapacitated in the room suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
Here’s a look at the equipment authorities have used:
Blunt-force weapons and projectiles
Authorities have used several tools that a 2025 report by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service noted for their ability to incapacitate using blunt force.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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Planes, ambulances and even tractors would be paralyzed.—
Jerald Fritz,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Focusing Only On What’s Happening Now Uncertainty paralyzes innovation.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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Trump’s suggestion of easing economic restrictions has drawn sharp criticism from European allies, who warn that any premature normalization could undermine the unified Western stance on sanctions and harm Ukraine’s position in ongoing negotiations.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
16 Aug. 2025
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Provost Jenny Martinez is vastly more accepting of athletics than her predecessor, Persis Drell, who might have done more to undermine football than anyone else on campus.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, Friesen was severely injured in an accident during the Super DIRTcar Series race at Canada’s Autodrome Drummond last weekend.—
Joseph Wolkin,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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One of the Yankees’ pre-trade deadline pickups is already injured.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The star was getting a bit too old to go around maiming and murdering faceless baddies in recent years; his last several thrillers mostly confined him to cars and trucks.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 July 2025
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Harris' injury evoked memories of the 2015 Fourth of July fireworks incident that maimed New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Eight civilians were killed and 33 were wounded in the eastern province of Donetsk.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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The girl was taking her dogs outside when the hog came out of thick brush and attacked her, wounding her leg.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
15 Aug. 2025
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This tab logs all your previous chats and has options to disable or delete them.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The storm killed more than 400 people and caused more than $100 million in damage, or $2.3 billion in today’s dollars.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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