1
as in to cripple
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to intimidate
to deprive of courage or confidence
the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyze
Thousands of air travelers scrambled to make alternate arrangements or simply hunkered down and waited at South Florida’s three international airports Monday as a blizzard that dropped up to 2 feet of snow all but paralyzed most of the Northeast.
—
David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Much of that violence is cartel-on-cartel though, and would not paralyze huge swaths of Mexico – and its important tourist industry – like the current situation, Placido and Felbab-Brown said.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree triggered the country’s most severe political crisis in decades, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Monster blizzard paralyzes Northeast with extreme snow, soaring power outages.
—FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Much of that violence is cartel-on-cartel though, and would not paralyze huge swaths of Mexico – and its important tourist industry – like the current situation, Placido and Felbab-Brown said.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree triggered the country’s most severe political crisis in decades, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Monster blizzard paralyzes Northeast with extreme snow, soaring power outages.
—FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
Verb
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New York and other cities are being crippled by a historic storm that is dropping record amounts of snow on the region.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
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In theory, energetic particles pass through such thin sheets without creating the kinds of defects that typically cripple conventional silicon chips.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The recent dispatch of thousands of immigration agents to Minneapolis has exacerbated Democratic concerns Trump might use them or even federal troops to intimidate voters in the name of law and order in Democratic-leaning cities.—
Carl P. Leubsdorf,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
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The Lord of the Rings Sauron’s Helmet Build an impressive replica of Sauron’s intimidating helmet, complete with a display stand, name plaque, and a minifigure clutching the One Ring.—
Brittany Anas,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jenny was traumatized and incapacitated for weeks.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Bhusri and Duffield’s agreement also means that if one of the cofounders is incapacitated or dies, the other gets control of both stakes.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
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While 21 page-menus might frighten the coach of a position where speed and agility are crucial, these types of moments are exactly how Harris thinks his unit will mesh.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fallout from the attacks has undermined the Emirates’ efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran despite longtime suspicions of its neighbor across the Gulf.—
Brian Melley,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
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Wealth taxes affect entrepreneurial decision-making, reduce returns on investment, introduce economic distortions and undermine job creation and business expansion.—
Jared Walczak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Aubry Bracco is the kind of player who terrifies a certain (male) demographic of Survivor alumni.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
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He’s terrified appropriately of the task at hand.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While speculation has focused on the possibility of two Republicans advancing, the more likely scenario is that only one GOP candidate reaches November — and does so weakened.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Feb. 2026
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The effect occurs because friction between grains drops sharply under fast loads, weakening the internal force networks that normally support the material.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, both candidates said the possibility doesn’t scare them.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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Bain and Howell are currently ranked out of range of the Patriots’ pick, but their length could scare teams away.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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