1
as in disabled
affected with paralysis
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paralyzed
Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025
By 1932, Germany’s parliament remained paralyzed.
—Daniel Ziblatt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
While staying in a secure position during economic uncertainty makes sense, remaining paralyzed by fear can derail long-term career growth and personal fulfillment.
—Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
Mullins was left paralyzed and died two years later.
—Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025
By 1932, Germany’s parliament remained paralyzed.
—Daniel Ziblatt, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Steven Sharp, 55 and paralyzed from the waist down, checked in at Diablo Valley Post Acute in April 2024 for six weeks of post-surgery rehabilitation, the lawsuit in Contra Costa County Superior Court said.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
While staying in a secure position during economic uncertainty makes sense, remaining paralyzed by fear can derail long-term career growth and personal fulfillment.
—Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
-
In a country where disabled people are overrepresented in jails and prisons, psychiatric institutions and police encounters, this isn’t just theoretical.—
Kate Caldwell,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The blackout is said to have come after Afghanistan’s 9,350-kilometer fiber optic network was disabled, leaving flights grounded, banks frozen, and millions of citizens and businesses cut off.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is obvious enough in the contrast between the aggressive takedown in humor and the helpless surrender in tears.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The series also starred Portia de Rossi as the family's layabout daughter, Lindsay; David Cross as her aspiring actor husband, Tobias; Alia Shawkat as their teen daughter, Maeby; Jessica Walter as the family's elitist matriarch, Lucille; and Tony Hale as the dynasty's helpless youngest son, Buster.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Another hunter had crippled him.—
Robert Merchant,
Outdoor Life,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Such a finding could’ve crippled the operations of Google, Meta and X, among various others.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There are liberals in media, but the corporations are now either controlled by the right wing or frightened of it.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Family pets, especially dogs, are frightened by the noise and will hide or try to run away.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The sight sends a paralytic tingle of alarm through her.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
-
For the past decade, Sughra Ayaz has traveled door to door in southeastern Pakistan, pleading with parents to allow children to be vaccinated against polio as part of a global campaign to wipe out the paralytic disease.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Nobody can say that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a weak team.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Akin to two boxers with weak chins slugging it out, Villa wanted to land another blow.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One caller said a delta-8 gummy incapacitated their adult son for several hours.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Another note that came up in the responses to this question is that everyone, of any age, should make sure that there are plans in place for a friend or relative to take care of the dog if the owner is incapacitated or dies.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sharabi, who is terrified of being held in a tunnel, is being moved to one.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Aldo had spent his time in the States terrified that he would be deported back to Cuba and jailed.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share