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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyze
The film was based on the 1976 autobiography of Ron Kovic, a Vietnam War veteran who was wounded and paralyzed, later becoming an anti-war activist.
—
Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
At the time, Nathan was mourning the loss of his NBA career after a fight with fans of a rival team ended with him being thrown through a plate-glass window and paralyzed.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Their meet-cute involves a pterodactyl, a number of plants that shoot paralyzing needles, and a nest in which Thia has been imprisoned.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
At the time, Nathan was mourning the loss of his NBA career after a fight with fans of a rival team ended with him being thrown through a plate-glass window and paralyzed.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Their meet-cute involves a pterodactyl, a number of plants that shoot paralyzing needles, and a nest in which Thia has been imprisoned.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
There are swift, serpentine vines dexterous enough to snatch Dek’s supplies; combustible little slugs that detonate like grenades when triggered; and exotic flowers that swell up and squirt paralyzing darts when something approaches.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
Verb
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At the time, the blockades crippled transportation routes and hospital services and prompted international warnings about a humanitarian crisis in the country, which was reeling from a devastating earthquake.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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Since then, they've been forced to work remotely — at a time when the government was doling out return-to-office mandates — preventing access to labs and crippling the center's mission of embedding NASA climate scientists within international academia.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Millions of seniors stuck due to accessibility issues For seniors today, finding the right place to live out the rest of their lives is intimidating for a number of reasons.—
Sydney Franklin,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Nov. 2025
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Indeed, one of General George Washington’s greatest achievements was to avoid being cornered and forced to capitulate to these intimidating legions in the war’s early years.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He is accused of slipping incapacitating drugs into victims’ food or drinks before assaulting them between 2021 and 2024.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
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In still other situations, lapses in common knowledge can incapacitate people who really, really need to work together.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These political executions are a callous attempt by the authorities to frighten and silence an increasingly restive population no longer willing to accept their corrupt and oppressive rule.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Tens of millions of dollars have been spent to redefine reality and to convince our neighbors that this new age is something that should frighten them.—
TIME Video,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Adopting the Southern view, the Supreme Court issued opinions that severely undermined the legal architecture of Reconstruction.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Others tell us that AI will completely undermine society.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Everyone was terrified of Friedkin.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
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Trump is terrified of the midterms, of Republicans losing control of the House or the Senate or both.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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With some estimates putting wave heights as much as 35 feet, weakened hatch covers would have been vulnerable to such waves.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Still, the company faces the same existential headwinds that have scared other would-be moguls away from the news business.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Skinner has gone to back-to-back Cup Finals, but the volatility in his game probably scares decision-makers.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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