paralyzed 1 of 2

adjective

ˈper-ə-ˌlīzd How to pronounce paralyzed (audio)
Definition of paralyzednext
1
as in disabled
affected with paralysis special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs

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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

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paralyzed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of paralyze
1
as in crippled
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days

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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

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
Adjective
Logan Marshall-Green stars as Grey, who’s left paralyzed after a robbery which leaves his wife dead. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 Clancy remains paralyzed from the waist down after jumping from her home’s second-story window on the night of the killings. — Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
Prosecutors say after killing her children, Clancy cut her wrists and neck and jumped from a second-story window, leaving her partially paralyzed. — Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 Lindsay Clancy trial Clancy, who is partially paralyzed from jumping out her second-story bedroom window after killing the children, could be sentenced to life in prison without parole if convicted. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
  1. disabled
  2. helpless
  3. crippled
  4. frightened
  5. paralytic
  6. weak
  7. incapacitated
  8. terrified
Adjective
  • And the concept, in his eyes, isn’t exclusive to the relationship between disabled people and their aides.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
  • That said, some folks, like the local nurse (Amanda Davis), agree to come out to the encampment and treat the residents, many of whom are physically disabled, suffer from mental disorders or are war veterans probably still in the throes of PTSD.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of disabled
Adjective
  • The wartime mood among European and American intellectuals was hopeless, or, rather, in her estimation, helpless.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • And the sport — players in uniform and executives in suits alike — all march toward the cliff in shackles of their own design, seemingly helpless to find a compromise.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of helpless
Verb
  • Over the years this bag has crippled numerous hotel bellmen attempting to lift it.
    — John Ficarra, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Africa desperately needs them, crippled by a fundamental lack of traditional national film funding incentives.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of crippled
Verb
  • But what frightened me most was not death alone, but the idea of dying before my writings reached the world—that my story would disappear with me, and that my feelings, my memories, my identity, and my human experience would be erased.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Before signing off, the teenager thanks her — the exchange calmed her down after Google search results frightened her.
    — Jennifer Karlin, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of frightened
Adjective
  • Assuming that the account in her journal is true, her father goes out and drinks himself into a ‘paralytic’ state.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of paralytic
Adjective
  • The Commerce Department released a report Friday showing weak retail sales in July.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Following his coach and uncle Toni’s advice, Nadal finally beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2008, breaking Federer’s Open-Era-record five-year winning streak on grass, by playing high balls to Federer’s back hand, his weak point.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of weak
Verb
  • This is somewhat reassuring since FEMA now appears to be incapacitated.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The medical professional also checked the boxes saying Grayson would be incapacitated within six months and his condition was unlikely to improve.
    — Jerry Nowicki, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of incapacitated
Verb
  • Video shows the moment terrified people ran for cover as the shots rang out.
    — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Family members on the ground waiting for their kids to get off the ride were terrified as well, the girls said.
    — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of terrified

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Cite this Entry

“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paralyzed

Nglish: Translation of paralyzed for Spanish Speakers

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