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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyze
The crash severed his spinal cord and he was paralyzed from the waist down.
—
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
As a result, the country’s economy, already on the verge of collapse, has been paralyzed.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Friends who had been paralyzed and beat the odds to walk again.
—Scott Hamilton, STAT, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026
In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
As a result, the country’s economy, already on the verge of collapse, has been paralyzed.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Friends who had been paralyzed and beat the odds to walk again.
—Scott Hamilton, STAT, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
Verb
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By controlling Gaza’s land, air and sea access, Israel has crippled its economy and infrastructure.—
Ken Barnes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
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Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That was incredibly intimidating to me.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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The spa also feels high-end without being intimidating—my facialist answered all my questions while providing a calming, nearly ASMR experience.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The defendant at the trial, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, argued that its policy covered only losses resulting from a medically verified, incapacitating illness.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
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The government claims the brothers used force and drugs to incapacitate the women.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His dribbling, direct running style and finishing frighten defenders and light up the biggest stages.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The remarks, delivered to Standard Bank executives and reported for the first time by Semafor, captured the growing unease among policymakers about how quickly the external shocks can undermine domestic planning, especially for an open, import-dependent economy like South Africa.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Aleph and other Jewish chaplaincy groups say the chaplaincy system is being undermined by the Messianic movement, whose adherents may identify as Jews but are not recognized as such by any denomination of Judaism.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jim was a teenager at the time, terrified of his abusive old man and roped into assisting him, along with his brother John Jr.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
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Mice know cats can smell them, and cats emit chemicals that terrify mice.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ten points to Gryffindor for Bree shooting and subsequently scaring the bear away.—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Mar. 2026
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Emphasizing the threat of being mistaken for an intruder should scare everyone into submission.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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