incapacitate

verb

ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt How to pronounce incapacitate (audio)
Definition of incapacitatenext
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

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 incapacitate Now, a poisonous residue on the same crowbar has left him incapacitated. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 According to the suit, Jane Doe was beset by seven men while she was incapacitated by drugs and alcohol. — Anahid Nersessian, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 Add to that Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland, where, if the pilot was incapacitated, a touch of a big red button initiates a safe, autonomous landing. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 The police described her as drunk and incapacitated, according to the records. — New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
  1. cripple
  2. injure
  3. undermine
  4. maim
  5. wound
  6. disable
  7. kill
Verb
  • Gas prices have surged about 37% over the past year as the Middle East conflict crippled the global crude trade.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The destruction of South Korea’s memory chip fabs would compound this tragedy and cripple the global economy.
    — Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of cripple
Verb
  • No bystanders were injured in the shooting, according to police.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Police said the occupant of the semitractor-trailer was not injured.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of injure
Verb
  • The Colorado Department of Transportation also reported substantial flood damage to highways in the region, with sections of roadway undermined by floodwaters.
    — Brian Maass, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The European Union fined Poland for undermining the rule of law.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • The trailer ends with Antonia Thomas, Fina Strazza, Viswanathan and Poehler’s characters maiming themselves for the cause.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Roché said six people, including minors, had been maimed in three weeks of protests, losing hands or eyes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of maim
Verb
  • Russian drones struck six areas in the Dnipropetrovsk region, wounding three people in the city of Dnipro, regional administrator Oleksandr Hanzha said.
    — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Whereas the Leo Dan original is fragile and wounded, Tacvba’s bouncy cover bursts out of the speakers with the shuffle of a ska beat and youthful Beatlesque confidence.
    — Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of wound
Verb
  • The blasts sparked an engine-room fire that disabled the vessel, the agency said, adding that the crew was safe.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The officer positioned themself ahead of the vehicle and deployed tire deflation devices, disabling the vehicle’s front driver’s-side tire, according to police.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of disable
Verb
  • An Israeli strike on Sunday killed two Palestinians, a man and woman, in Muwasi, a tent camp area on Gaza's coast, said health officials at Nasser hospital.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Charlie Kirk, who founded conservative political group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed September 2025 while speaking at a college event in Utah.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of kill

Browse Nearby Words

incapably
incapacitate
incapacitated
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Cite this Entry

“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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