1
as in paralyzes
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cripples
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 incapacitates
The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded on Mars after a dust storm incapacitates him.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
28 May 2026
Lorenzo confronts and incapacitates Pepe, Sonia’s main ally, before facing Sonia herself.
—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
28 May 2026
Lorenzo confronts and incapacitates Pepe, Sonia’s main ally, before facing Sonia herself.
—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitates
Verb
-
In fact, too much choice often paralyzes decision-making.
-
Once an octopus ambushes and bites its prey, the venom in its saliva paralyzes the prey, allowing the octopus to consume it.
Verb
-
Federal illegality further cripples operations with banking and tax burdens.
-
In the final version of the film, Furiosa captures Dementus, cripples him, brings him back to the Citadel.
Verb
-
That pressure erodes well-being, undermines family life, and disproportionately impacts working parents and caregivers.
-
It is believed internally that the organization’s independence has been dramatically compromised because she is also perceived as an opinion journalist with political ties to the current administration, which further undermines her credibility.
Verb
-
Apple has a similar feature on the iPhone where pressing the side and volume buttons simultaneously disables Face ID.
-
Five of eight inbound vessels were said to be dark, which is when a ship disables its Automatic Identification System, or AIS, transponder to hide its location, identity and destination.
Verb
-
Early on in the clip, Jake Johnson’s former tennis star Dusty Boyd trips over the net and injures his wrist in a bad way.
-
Who is responsible when a robot breaks something or injures someone?
Verb
-
Chops, gouges, wounds it like the shadow grooves on the sidewalks—the sun is setting earlier.
-
Imperfect fleshly reality occupies the stage, the region where bones crack and wounds suppurate, schlumpy humans fall for each other, and jealousy roams murderously free.
Verb
-
The attack only maims Aegon, who is left bedridden and unable to walk on his own.
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitates. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
