1
as in paralyzing
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 crippling
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitating
Tabitha grabs one of the weird, spooky totem things and drives it through the chest of the scarecrow monster attacking Donna, killing it – or at least incapacitating it – and the scarecrows retreat.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 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
The defendant at the trial, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, argued that its policy covered only losses resulting from a medically verified, incapacitating illness.
—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
Larter's Angela has been put through the wringer on the second season of Landman, from getting into an explosive battle with Thornton's Tommy over her period to getting arrested for incapacitating two health inspectors during a visit to her local nursing home.
—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Jan. 2026
Dysentery and scurvy ravaged the vessel, killing or incapacitating many on board.
—
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
8 Jan. 2026
Documentation is required to show incapacitating injury and illness.
—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
The only way to repair the rift and deal with the incapacitating grief is through art.
—
James Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2025
He is accused of slipping incapacitating drugs into victims’ food or drinks before assaulting them between 2021 and 2024.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 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
The defendant at the trial, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, argued that its policy covered only losses resulting from a medically verified, incapacitating illness.
—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
Larter's Angela has been put through the wringer on the second season of Landman, from getting into an explosive battle with Thornton's Tommy over her period to getting arrested for incapacitating two health inspectors during a visit to her local nursing home.
—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Jan. 2026
Dysentery and scurvy ravaged the vessel, killing or incapacitating many on board.
—
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
8 Jan. 2026
Documentation is required to show incapacitating injury and illness.
—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
The only way to repair the rift and deal with the incapacitating grief is through art.
—
James Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2025
He is accused of slipping incapacitating drugs into victims’ food or drinks before assaulting them between 2021 and 2024.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitating
Verb
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With endless criteria, knowing exactly what to ask for from a pair of jean shorts is paralyzing.
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His grief was crushing, paralyzing, calamitous.
Verb
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Eddie Marsan also delivers a sympathetic turn as the sad sack dad worn down by the effects of capitalism and sometimes crippling OCD.
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Crucially, the strike targeted a critical AVT-6 distillation unit, potentially crippling the refinery's entire 12 million tons/year capacity,.
Verb
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Oftentimes, disabling security protections is frowned upon.
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Anthropic complied within hours, disabling the models for all customers globally, though other models remain active.
Verb
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The one-two punch wreaked massive destruction throughout the region, killing at least 235 and wounding more than 4,300.
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Manila, Philippines — Two students armed with hand guns opened fire in a high school in the central Philippines on Monday, killing three fellow students and wounding another seven, police said.
Verb
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Some employees also owe their employers a deeper fiduciary duty, which one court has described as the duty to protect the employer’s interests and to avoid injuring the employer or depriving the employer of the employee’s skills.
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In May, a frightened horse rammed into another carriage, causing the vehicle to flip over, injuring the driver.
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitating. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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