PARALYSES Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

paralysis

noun

pə-ˈra-lə-səs

Definition of paralysis

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

Relevance

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 Patients can also experience stroke-like symptoms including weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and trouble speaking. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 Freeze looks like paralysis—the inability to move on a problem that clearly needs movement. — Joy Nissen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 These reforms are designed to generate bipartisan support amid partisan paralysis. — Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026 Certain antidepressants may also be prescribed to help manage cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hallucinations. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for paralysis

Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis

Noun

Both McGraw and Rauscher have had degrees of disability and health problems as a result of that exposure.

— Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
The rebrand reflects a broader shift in how the disability community wants to be represented, and who gets to make that call.

— Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

Definition of disability

Noun

Not everyone with high levels of amyloid will progress to dementia, just as having tau in the brain does not dictate cognitive impairment later in life, Buckley said.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Study participants with very low p-tau217 levels likewise had a low risk of developing cognitive impairment over the five- to 10-year period.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026

Definition of impairment

Noun

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
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.

— Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 4 May 2026

Definition of palsy

Noun

Such declines can impact muscle strength, bone density, and libido, potentially causing fatigue and weakness.

— Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
At a meeting earlier this month, the RMG Sustainability Council warned that structural weaknesses could put lives and property at risk if the building remained open.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 17 July 2026

Definition of weakness

Browse Nearby Words

parallels

paralysis

paralytic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of paralysis

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on paralysis

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dog days

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes