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
Economists have attributed this to high uncertainty (in part due to massive shifts in trade and immigration policy) that has paralyzed much business investment.
—
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
This week's protests are the biggest in three years, since nationwide demonstrations triggered by the death of a young woman in custody in late 2022 paralyzed Iran for weeks, with rights groups reporting hundreds killed.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Early in November, my last surviving grandmother suffered a stroke, which paralyzed most of her body, leaving only her eyes and one arm fully mobile.
—Andrew Fedorov, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
This week's protests are the biggest in three years, since nationwide demonstrations triggered by the death of a young woman in custody in late 2022 paralyzed Iran for weeks, with rights groups reporting hundreds killed.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Early in November, my last surviving grandmother suffered a stroke, which paralyzed most of her body, leaving only her eyes and one arm fully mobile.
—Andrew Fedorov, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
Verb
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Both have endured crippling US sanctions that have precipitated economic collapses.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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In November 2021, while massing troops along its border with Ukraine, Russia threatened to cripple GPS if NATO got in the way.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ryan Thornton, 37, of Racine, was initially charged in October in Dane County with stalking and misdemeanor counts of intimidating a victim and disorderly conduct.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet, and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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However, Flanagan’s grandmother, Nadine Followill, known as Mimi, a smart, strong-willed and independent former office manager, became injured and incapacitated after a series of falls.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
12 Jan. 2026
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The suspect advanced on police after a roughly seven-minute standoff and officers deployed stun guns, which failed to incapacitate him, according to Minch.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Secretary of State called the event an attempt to frighten public servants.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The video evidence also appears to undermine elements of the government’s narrative of what happened.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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Environmental and labor leaders say the pause is costing thousands of jobs and undermining energy independence.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Arnoldo is still waiting for Houston authorities to help him, still terrified that a masked agent will come first.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
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Their mother, Dorothy (Susannah Flood), an alcoholic, is passive, withdrawn, and terrified of Mike.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Just don’t understand the attraction of settling down with a book and scaring yourself half to death.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
12 Jan. 2026
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What's more, this door alarm features three sensitivity levels and emits a loud, shrill sound that will instantly scare an intruder away.—
Stephanie Gray,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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