1
as in disabled
affected with paralysis
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crippled
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frightened
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 paralyzed
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Choquette, 60, became paralyzed as a result of a car accident in his childhood and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Garrett, who was paralyzed as a result of the crash, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, fleeing to elude high speed (serious bodily injury or death), battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and criminal mischief.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
But the alternative, a paralyzed middle management layer, is worse.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Choquette, 60, became paralyzed as a result of a car accident in his childhood and relies on a wheelchair to get around.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
The daughter, Georgette Smith, was paralyzed in the shooting and died after winning a court order to remove her ventilator.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
Garrett, who was paralyzed as a result of the crash, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, fleeing to elude high speed (serious bodily injury or death), battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and criminal mischief.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
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The brothers have founded a long list of prison programs, with Erik starting at least five, including a support group for disabled and elderly inmates.—
Taylor Romine,
CNN Money,
13 May 2025
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The car was shot up in the melee and the driver sped away, with the vehicle ultimately becoming disabled on the highway, Delva said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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His curveball induced one helpless swing from the Diamondbacks (26-23) after another.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
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Scheifele’s emotional and inspirational decision to play mere hours after his father’s unexpected death — to play for his dad, to play because of his dad — ended in cruel fashion, with Scheifele helpless in the penalty box.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Verb
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His vengeance included turning Michigan State in for NCAA violations, leading to probation that crippled the program until the late 1970s.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
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As the city litigated and revised the environmental impact report, two devastating storms in December 2023 and February 2024 — the same series that crippled San Diego’s Ocean Beach Pier — substantially damaged the wharf.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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During this six-month period, mussels may have naturally occurring toxins that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning and domoic acid biotoxins, also known as amnesic shellfish poisoning.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2025
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Two others are blooming, including Alexandrium, which creates saxitoxin and causes paralytic shellfish poisoning that can be harmful to marine mammals and humans, and Akashiwo sanguinea, which can cause hypothermia in sea birds.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The grand jury also criticizes city officials for weak oversight and enforcement of their contract with the Humane Society, which requires the nonprofit to enforce leash laws at 400 city parks and other venues.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
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And, in the long run, economists say that will translate to a weaker economy and a lower standard of living.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Hours before that performance, as Ivy has a diva moment and Karen is incapacitated in a reformatting of the series’ poisoning plot line, Bombshell’s assistant director, Chloe (Bella Coppola), suddenly has to step up to play Marilyn, winning the love of the internet.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
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Successful organizing includes documenting evidence of government abuses, sharing information broadly, and building administrative systems rather than relying on a few leaders who may be assassinated or otherwise incapacitated.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The movie sees the revival of arch-villain Feathers McGraw, who terrified kids in 1993’s The Wrong Trousers.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Dec. 2024
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My Hugo would chase it and bark at it, or he'd be terrified.—
Benedict Cosgrove,
Newsweek,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But the militants, while greatly weakened, have repeatedly regrouped, often after Israeli forces withdraw from areas.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
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Those at high-risk for listeria infection are newborns, those who are pregnant, have weakened immune systems, and those aged 65 or older.—
Mike Snider,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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