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
In February 2025, a hiker became severely hypothermic near the summit of Vermont’s Mount Equinox during a winter storm, incapacitated with a dying phone battery.
—
Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
One of four passengers in Bain’s car, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, suffered incapacitating injuries and was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial from the scene, according to the report.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Cosby’s accuser was a waitress who said she was left incapacitated by pills and wine after attending one of the comic’s shows in Los Angeles.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead of using explosives, most attacks used carbon fiber bombs that incapacitated the facilities instead of destroying them.
—Chris Boccia, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
One of four passengers in Bain’s car, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, suffered incapacitating injuries and was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial from the scene, according to the report.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Cosby’s accuser was a waitress who said she was left incapacitated by pills and wine after attending one of the comic’s shows in Los Angeles.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead of using explosives, most attacks used carbon fiber bombs that incapacitated the facilities instead of destroying them.
—Chris Boccia, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Though she is paralyzed from the neck down, Lucy still has some mobility in her arms, the Post reported.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The move crippled the agency — as intended.—
Tracy Stone-Manning,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
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Eden outlined how, by crippling universities over charges of antisemitism, McMahon could also achieve larger goals.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Anwar, the state lawmaker and physician, expressed concern that lawsuits undermine patients’ faith in their doctors.—
Noam N. Levey,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The move comes amid a broader crackdown on speech since the start of the Iran war, targeting those expressing support for Tehran or criticism of Gulf governments, and the publication of images of war damage, which are seen as undermining public confidence and stability.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shootings took place at multiple locations early Sunday morning, leaving eight children dead, two adult women wounded -- the mothers of his children -- and another woman and child injured.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Apr. 2026
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Police said that the child who was attacked was injured and was taken to UPMC Children's Hospital for treatment.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The LaMunyons’ location was maimed in January when a Ford F150 collided into the restaurant.—
Jenna Thompson
April 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 Apr. 2026
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About this many children have been killed or maimed in the war, according to UNICEF.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Separatist fighters on Saturday joined Islamic militants in launching one of the biggest coordinated attacks on the Malian army in the capital and several other cities, which left an unknown number of militants dead and at least 16 people wounded, including civilians, the government said.—
Wilson Mcmakin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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At least 14 people were killed and at least 38 wounded, including five children, after a bomb tore apart a busy road in southwestern Colombia, according to local authorities.—
Annabella González,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
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Bright lives in a small town far out on Colorado’s prairie and has several disabling medical conditions.—
Josh Boak,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Denver police on Thursday arrested a 28-year-old man who investigators said shot and killed another man in a fight near South Broadway and West Maple Avenue, department officials said in a news release.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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