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
McConnell has always appeared to have a somewhat unsteady gate — a childhood bout of polio left him with a partially paralyzed leg. — Eric McDaniel, NPR, 14 June 2026 Earlier this year, Neuralink—the world’s most high-profile and well-funded BCI startup—launched a clinical trial to enable paralyzed patients to output verbal thoughts directly as text or speech. — Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
Verb
Lemke said Sculley claims that on the night of May 31, Carragher gave her a vape that contained an apparent date rape drug that paralyzed her. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 24 June 2026 The artisanal-fishing industry had been all but paralyzed by high gas prices since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; a large number of vessels were anchored close to shore. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 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
  • Multiple disabled riders spoke with the panel and complained about inadequate warnings.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • After surviving a career-ending stroke, the former officer founded The Wounded Blue, the nation's only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to injured and disabled law enforcement officers.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of disabled
Adjective
  • The leading interpretation is that Smilodon delivered a single precise bite to the throat or belly, severing something vital in a target that was already helpless.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of helpless
Verb
  • In the nation’s gravest hour, the country’s authoritarian regime has crippled an effective response, say survivors, rescue workers and former officials.
    — Terrence McCoy, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
  • This comes at a dire time for Venezuela, which is still deep in political and financial crisis – being led by an interim government after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, and facing an economy crippled by years of hyperinflation.
    — Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
Definition of crippled
Verb
  • At the time of writing, as the Marine Traffic map shows, tanker traffic is barely moving through the Strait, and many ships, unable to obtain insurance or with their owners frightened at the level of risk involved, are refusing to advance.
    — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • But because the president has frightened Congress, Congress doesn’t raise its voice when the president puts his Albert Speer–like building project, or intends to, on Congress’s land.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 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
  • Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of weak
Verb
  • There's an apocryphal story about its creations; supposedly Kryptonite was invented so Superman's voice actor Bud Collyer could take vacations while the Man of Steel was incapacitated.
    — James Grebey, Time, 26 June 2026
  • Airbus UpNext's DragonFly project is developing AI that manages complex emergencies autonomously when the crew is incapacitated.
    — Tanya Eves, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of incapacitated
Verb
  • Sebastian Krautz went viral on NBC10 Boston this week after admitting he was initially terrified to travel to the United States because of news about crime and safety.
    — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 July 2026
  • The old him would have been terrified of going onstage, a public humiliation waiting to happen.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 3 July 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 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paralyzed

Nglish: Translation of paralyzed for Spanish Speakers

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