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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralysis
Six of the patients that van Nunen had treated for the meat allergy remembered being bitten by a paralysis tick.
—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
While most people who get infected with WNV have no symptoms, one in 150 may develop more serious illnesses like brain inflammation, paralysis or death.
—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
The sociologist Max Weber foresaw the paralysis of this bureaucratization that is now unleashing a rising fury against democracy itself.
—
Simon Sebag Montefiore,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
His son developed Bell's palsy, a sudden paralysis on one side of the face, but recovered quickly after a course of oral antibiotics.
—
Bram Sable-Smith,
NPR,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
While most people who get infected with WNV have no symptoms, one in 150 may develop more serious illnesses like brain inflammation, paralysis or death.
—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
The sociologist Max Weber foresaw the paralysis of this bureaucratization that is now unleashing a rising fury against democracy itself.
—
Simon Sebag Montefiore,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
His son developed Bell's palsy, a sudden paralysis on one side of the face, but recovered quickly after a course of oral antibiotics.
—
Bram Sable-Smith,
NPR,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
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Many of those affected were elderly residents or people with disabilities living on the fourth and fifth floors of the building.
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Fernandez later died from her injuries and Puig suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her with a lifetime of disabilities.
Noun
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The lawsuit emphasizes that the rule could force doctors to make complex work impairment assessments and lead to eligible individuals losing vital healthcare, shifting costs and confusion onto states.
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After observing signs of impairment, the officers arrested the driver, the state patrol says.
Noun
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Back in 2024, Embiid battled the Knicks in a first-round playoff series months after left knee surgery and dealt with Bell’s palsy.
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Philadelphia will now play the New York Knicks in the second round, a rematch of a heated 2024 first-round series the Knicks won in six, during which Embiid played through Bell’s palsy.
Noun
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The weakness that began in technology stocks spread through Asia and Europe on Tuesday, while precious metals also came under pressure as investors reassessed the path of interest rates.
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When the complex was being constructed, there were deviations from the building’s original design, contributing to structural weaknesses, the report said.
Cite this Entry
“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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