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 The Flemish-French divide in Belgium has not exploded in tumult but has nevertheless left the country in a state of institutional paralysis. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 Each venom is a unique cocktail of peptides and proteins that can cause muscular paralysis, tissue destruction, cardiac arrest, or other effects. — Steve Midway, STAT, 16 July 2026 The paralysis has led to delays in key pieces of legislation. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026 In more severe cases, symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, vision loss, paralysis and coma. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
  1. disability
  2. impairment
  3. palsy
  4. weakness
Noun
  • But with France about to enter its peak August tourist season, Gironde authorities took more steps to keep vacationers away, banning holiday camps for children and for people with disabilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 July 2026
  • Social Security serves more than 300 million Americans through benefit payments, retirement records, disability determinations, replacement cards and hundreds of millions of annual transactions.
    — Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 26 July 2026
Definition of disability
Noun
  • If an investor attributes $800 billion to $1 trillion of SpaceX’s valuation to those Starship-dependent growth options, a 10–15% impairment produces something approaching $80–150 billion.
    — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • However, the company posted an additional non-cash impairment charge of $16 million.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 21 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
  • Unlike standard hearing and vision tests, these assessments examine how the brain interprets what the child hears and sees and may help identify underlying weaknesses contributing to behaviors associated with ADHD or autism.
    — Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 25 July 2026
  • Symptoms can include arm or leg pain, numbness, weakness and tingling, and Mayo Clinic advises calling a doctor if pain in the neck or back spreads to an arm or leg.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026
Definition of weakness

Browse Nearby Words

parallels
paralysis
paralytic
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Cite this Entry

“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 27 Jul. 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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