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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Cuban officials acknowledged at the end of last year the country’s economy is yet again paralyzed due to fuel shortages and power stations constantly breaking down.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2026
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This week's protests are the biggest in three years, since nationwide demonstrations triggered by the death of a young woman in custody in late 2022 paralyzed Iran for weeks, with rights groups reporting hundreds killed.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Both have endured crippling US sanctions that have precipitated economic collapses.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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In November 2021, while massing troops along its border with Ukraine, Russia threatened to cripple GPS if NATO got in the way.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
6 Jan. 2026
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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Philadelphia police are warning dog owners in Center City after a pit bull believed to belong to a homeless man was linked to multiple attacks on pets over the past week, leaving two dogs seriously injured and another permanently maimed.—
Ross DiMattei,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
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For decades, law enforcement officials have issued public pleas to revelers not to fire guns into the air on Independence Day and New Year’s Eve, an annual phenomenon in some neighborhoods that has occasionally led to people being maimed or killed.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2026
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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Some Georgia districts are already using locking pouches, but schools could also just tell students to leave their phone in their locker, to turn them in to a teacher, or disable them using an online application.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Open your settings and disable all but the critical ones, such as when a family member is trying to reach you.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
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 8 Jan. 2026.
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