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
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Recent Examples of paralysis
Symptoms of the more serious illness include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, according to the CDC.
—
Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But the absence of leadership in Washington cannot become an excuse for paralysis.
—Bill Ritter Jr, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
When Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine became available, families waited in long lines for hours to receive it, hoping to prevent their children from having to experience paralysis or life in an iron lung.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
The amendment essentially asks political appointees to commit political career suicide while navigating a constitutional crisis — a recipe for paralysis and politicization when decisive action is needed most.
—Lynn Schmidt, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
But the absence of leadership in Washington cannot become an excuse for paralysis.
—Bill Ritter Jr, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
When Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine became available, families waited in long lines for hours to receive it, hoping to prevent their children from having to experience paralysis or life in an iron lung.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
The amendment essentially asks political appointees to commit political career suicide while navigating a constitutional crisis — a recipe for paralysis and politicization when decisive action is needed most.
—Lynn Schmidt, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
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Yes, Social Security payments, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue during a government shutdown.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools, the union said.—
Collin Binkley,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Leaper Williams, a Lawrence High graduate who started working at KU at 16, emerged as one of KU football’s most recognizable employees through the years, overcoming a development impairment due to anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the brain, at birth.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
8 Oct. 2025
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She had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in 2021 and with Alzheimer’s disease in 2023.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Symptoms can include a rash and flu-like symptoms, with some people going on to experience arthritis, facial palsy, pain, irregular heartbeats and other worsening symptoms.—
Grace Gavilanes,
People.com,
31 July 2025
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The Emmy-winning composer died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles following an eight-year battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Clausen’s daughter told the Hollywood Reporter.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
Noun
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However, the effects on hiring may be blunted by persistent weakness in the labor market.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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JPMorgan adds SharkNinja to the focus list JPM said investors should buy the weakness in the consumer products company.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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