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
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
Cubans face national blackouts, fuel shortages, and paralyzed hospitals after five years of economic crisis worsened by the oil embargo.
—Cristiana Mesquita, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Brad Quick, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
The city was hit by a massive snowstorm that paralyzed its streets along with the uncovering of a $30 million to $40 million structural budget gap.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
In May 2023, the author suffered a rare spinal stroke that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
Cubans face national blackouts, fuel shortages, and paralyzed hospitals after five years of economic crisis worsened by the oil embargo.
—Cristiana Mesquita, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Jones was admitted into the ICU after a rare disease diagnosis left her temporarily paralyzed.
—Brad Quick, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
The city was hit by a massive snowstorm that paralyzed its streets along with the uncovering of a $30 million to $40 million structural budget gap.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
-
British maritime monitors confirmed the incidents, describing one cargo ship left disabled in the water and another that took heavy damage to its bridge.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Over the two weekends, police also noted that 85 citations were issued for the unlawful use of a disabled placard.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Punk appeared helpless as Reigns picked him up.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The show’s name referred to their self-identification as helpless babies overwhelmed by the pressures of modernity, comforted only by coating themselves in fancy serums and moisturizers to recreate the peaceful, placental insulation of the womb.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That includes China, a key soybean purchaser, which temporarily crippled the market late last year.—
Samantha Subin,Seema Mody,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The move crippled the agency — as intended.—
Tracy Stone-Manning,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
-
When to see a doctor Ashamalla stressed that people shouldn’t be frightened by every ache or pain.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
He was injected with the three-drug mix of an anesthetic, a paralytic and potassium acetate, which stops the heart.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Health officials identified a paralytic polio case in 2022 in an unvaccinated adult in New York.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Viel made a weak pass that led to the goal but had a strong hit on McDavid in the opening 20 minutes as well.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
With the uncertainty caused by the war with Iran, the price of oil going through the roof, and tariffs complicating company supply chains, analysts expected the labor market to get weaker.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence from public life has raised speculation that he could be incapacitated or dead.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The lieutenant governor assumes the top job if the governor is incapacitated or dies.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Monitor was always meant to be experienced with a room full of people being terrified together.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
-
No matter who was in charge, the Miami Dolphins franchise have been terrified of quarterback competition for nearly two decades, and that might explain why South Florida’s NFL franchise hasn’t won a playoff game in 25 years.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
