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
But even before their deaths and ensuing public outcry, James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Sherman saw fear paralyzing the city’s food community.
—
Serena Maria Daniels, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
The other was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.
—Courtney Cole, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
But a winter storm paralyzed much of North Carolina on Saturday, forcing NASCAR’s season-opening Clash exhibition race to shift to Monday night (at least in the current best-case scenario).
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Have joy, have fun, come together and do not be paralyzed by fear.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Serena Maria Daniels, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
The other was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.
—Courtney Cole, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
But a winter storm paralyzed much of North Carolina on Saturday, forcing NASCAR’s season-opening Clash exhibition race to shift to Monday night (at least in the current best-case scenario).
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Have joy, have fun, come together and do not be paralyzed by fear.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
Verb
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In the current session the GOP think tank is conjuring ways to cut property tax, a move that will cripple county and city government’s capacity to provide services to their constituents.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
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South Florida’s agricultural community is bracing for potentially freezing cold temperatures that could cripple their crops.—
Steve Maugeri,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Homemade caramel frosting can be intimidating for novice bakers, but a Caramel Cake is practically a required guest at the church supper.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
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The nurses interviewed by AP said they felt intimidated by ICE’s presence in the critical care unit and had even been told to avoid a certain bathroom to minimize encounters with officers.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The radiation can incapacitate critical civilian and military electronic infrastructure.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
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Perhaps the principal investigator dies, or is incapacitated.—
David Seal,
STAT,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The state spent more than $2 million on nonlethal efforts to drive the wolves away from human communities, working day and night over the summer to frighten them with drones, flags, rubber bullets and beanbags, among other methods.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That changes the nature of those devices and undermines the reason to buy an iPhone in the first place.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Even for a politician known for erratic policy shifts, this swap—of longtime democratic partners that have sacrificed much for America’s benefit in exchange for an authoritarian regime intent on undermining it—is bizarre.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are things to be terrified of.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
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Like the strung-up coyotes, the Ghoul typically looks normal from afar but terrifying up close.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In overwhelmingly Democratic districts, the outcome is almost always predetermined, further depressing turnout and weakening accountability.—
Grace Rauh,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Healthy Rivers and Landscapes’ flexibility represents potentially weakened enforceable safeguards for environmental and tribal groups, as the program relies on voluntary commitments instead of mandatory flow standards.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As federal agents try to scare and provoke, in a way that could easily undermine the cause, such training is essential to ensure peaceful protesters do not take the bait.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
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The presence or the expectation of violence scares people away from democracy.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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