INCAPACITATE Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

incapacitate

verb

ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt

Definition of incapacitate

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Airbus UpNext's DragonFly project is developing AI that manages complex emergencies autonomously when the crew is incapacitated. — Tanya Eves, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 According to the law enforcement investigation, Garcia activated her Taser seven times in a row in about a minute, with the State Patrol concluding that three to four of those activations occurred after Tomlinson was already incapacitated by the initial Taser deployments. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 19 June 2026 The lieutenant governor is first in line for succession if a governor is incapacitated. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026 For example, if mom's alive but incapacitated, the heir legally owns nothing and has zero rights to manage the house. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for incapacitate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate

Verb

Silva and his mother did not have easy lives, even before he was paralyzed.

— Trevor Morgan, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
In June of this year, a northern Colorado city agreed to pay $675,000 to settle a lawsuit after police shot and paralyzed Herkimer, a healthy 14-month-old family dog who was later euthanized because of his injuries.

— Vanessa Shakib, Oc Register, 23 July 2026

Definition of paralyze

Verb

Because control can be distributed across multiple platforms, the loss of a single drone does not necessarily cripple the entire formation.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
Moses Okello, a senior researcher with the Institute for Security Studies’ Horn of Africa program, told CNN the attacks appear designed to cripple the city’s ability to function rather than simply hit military targets.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Definition of cripple

Verb

State leaders have introduced Assembly Bill 1383, which undermines crucial PEPRA guardrails, granting an unfunded pension benefit increase to first responders by reducing their retirement age.

— Zachary Christensen, Oc Register, 24 July 2026
For American tech companies, free and comparable Chinese models like K3 threaten to undermine their own products.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

Forget flowers, the men of dark romances maim as a grand gesture.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 July 2026
All of the 200 children and adolescents initially qualified for the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder; after the group’s fifth session, with war still killing and maiming their friends, only 30% qualified.

— James Gordon, Time, 14 July 2026

Definition of maim

Verb

In the film, Robin Hood (Jackman), who feels cursed after leading a life of violent crime, is gravely wounded in a battle and seeks a chance at salvation while under the care of the mysterious Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer).

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The Pentagon also lists 420 troops as wounded in action during Operation Epic Fury.

— Chris Kenning, USA Today, 26 July 2026

Definition of wound

Verb

Despite a disabling illness, Ettenberg continues expanding these essential tools, ensuring others can dine with confidence.

— Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
In September, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services sent a notice denying her coverage, citing incorrect income information and stating she wasn't disabled, according to Kolosova and state documents reviewed by KFF Health News.

— Rachana Pradhan, NPR, 20 July 2026

Definition of disable

Verb

Two people were killed and at least five others were injured in a shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday night as the civic center complex hosted a major food festival.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 27 July 2026
On Saturday night, Fort Worth police shot and killed another suspect who pulled a gun on officers following a short car chase that ended near the I-35W service road on the city’s far south side, Garcia said.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026

Definition of kill

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incapacitate

incapacitated

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“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of incapacitate

verb

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