paralysis

noun

pə-ˈra-lə-səs How to pronounce paralysis (audio)
Definition of paralysisnext
as in disability
complete or partial loss of physical function (as motion or sensation) in a part of the body the car accident left one athlete with paralysis from the waist down

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 paralysis And that’s left the rank and file at both companies in a strange state of paralysis. — Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 In One Word That Will Change Your Life, Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page argue that clutter and complexity breed paralysis while simplicity creates clarity. — Rick Tollakson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 The loss of these specialized cells causes weakness and then paralysis of all of the muscles of the body under our control — including muscles that allow for breathing, speaking, and swallowing. — Christopher Campos, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026 In rare cases, the virus can cause serious health problems like swelling of the brain or spinal cord or paralysis. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
  1. disability
  2. impairment
  3. palsy
  4. weakness
Noun
  • Also, the city recently acknowledged the lack of affordable accessible housing for people with disabilities and agreed to identify, build or rehab 2,800 units to meet accessibility standards.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Only 7% cover accommodations for mobility limitation, hearing disability, vision impairment and sensory disabilities.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of disability
Noun
  • On 28 July, Moody’s changed its MENA outlook from stable to negative, noting that the impairment of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will weigh on the growth of Gulf sovereigns, as well as their fiscal and external positions.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Garcia faces charges of terroristic threat causing impairment of public service/ placing a public servant in fear of serious bodily injury, according to Fort Worth jail records.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of impairment
Noun
  • Other Live personalities have also opened up about various health occurrences this year, with the show’s longtime emcee and resident DJ, Déjà Vu, revealing in April that she was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, which causes facial paralysis.
    — Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026
  • Back in 2024, Embiid battled the Knicks in a first-round playoff series months after left knee surgery and dealt with Bell’s palsy.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Definition of palsy
Noun
  • If a bear market arrives shortly after retirement, a cash reserve can allow a family to meet expenses without immediately selling long-term investments into weakness.
    — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
  • To be sure, efforts to prop up the yen were seen as short-term measures to address the symptoms rather than the root causes of the currency’s weakness.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakness

Browse Nearby Words

parallels
paralysis
paralytic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paralysis

Nglish: Translation of paralysis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paralysis

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