1
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine
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2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitate
In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.
—
Kristina Goetz, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Hours before that performance, as Ivy has a diva moment and Karen is incapacitated in a reformatting of the series’ poisoning plot line, Bombshell’s assistant director, Chloe (Bella Coppola), suddenly has to step up to play Marilyn, winning the love of the internet.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
When players’ health dips to zero, they’re incapacitated and must wait for teammates to revive them.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Friday’s earthquake has incapacitated the nation’s essential services and made critical stretches of its roads impassable.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Kristina Goetz, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Hours before that performance, as Ivy has a diva moment and Karen is incapacitated in a reformatting of the series’ poisoning plot line, Bombshell’s assistant director, Chloe (Bella Coppola), suddenly has to step up to play Marilyn, winning the love of the internet.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
When players’ health dips to zero, they’re incapacitated and must wait for teammates to revive them.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Friday’s earthquake has incapacitated the nation’s essential services and made critical stretches of its roads impassable.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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He was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died three months later.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2025
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The disturbing event all but paralyzes Kyle on the couch as the viral loathing continues.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 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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This kind of long-term vision is undermined by drastic and unpredictable trade policies.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
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Miranda Jeyaretnam and Chad de Guzman reported on April 30, 2025, for the 50th anniversary of the war’s end, on how President Donald Trump is undermining U.S.-Vietnam reconciliation.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Memorial at Florida State University after a fatal shooting killed two people and injured several others.—
Kati Weis,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2025
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The spill killed 11 people and injured 17 others as 210 million gallons of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico (recently renamed by the U.S. government as Gulf of America) for a total of 87 days.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Over the course of just two days in February, 21 children were reported killed and 29 children maimed by shelling in Kadugli, South Kordofan State.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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Higher speeds are more likely to kill or maim people, especially in crashes that involve pedestrians or cyclists.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Three people were wounded in a brazen knife attack Monday evening at the Linden Houses in Brooklyn, police said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2025
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Three young teens were wounded overnight in a drive-by shooting on the South Side in the Chatham neighborhood, Chicago police said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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One night, the cemetery is plundered; graves are tipped over, their wi-fi connections disabled.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
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It is currently disabled, but was accepting donations before Camarion also passed away.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Outdoors Summer Camp in Chatham Two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old and an 18-year-old died in the crash, the Sangamon County Coroner's Office said The four victims killed after a vehicle crashed into their after-school camp in Illinois have been identified by authorities.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to federal charges in CEO killing Judge Margaret Garnett asked for an explanation, which federal prosecutors provided in a court filing.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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