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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyzed
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
The 16th annual event benefits The Cruisey Baby Initiative, a nonprofit created by indefatigable local artist Cruise Bogle, who suffered a spinal cord injury in 2008 (at age 19) that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026
First aid and recovery Abo said that a direct strike can cause cardiac arrest, and indirect strikes can cause the lungs to be temporarily paralyzed, which can also cause a heart attack.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
The economy has been almost paralyzed for well over a year.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
The 16th annual event benefits The Cruisey Baby Initiative, a nonprofit created by indefatigable local artist Cruise Bogle, who suffered a spinal cord injury in 2008 (at age 19) that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2026
Verb
In April 2021, a strike organized by labor unions paralyzed the country, at a time when widespread dissatisfaction was on the rise, particularly on issues such as health, education and employment.
—Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026
First aid and recovery Abo said that a direct strike can cause cardiac arrest, and indirect strikes can cause the lungs to be temporarily paralyzed, which can also cause a heart attack.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
-
Getting that exemption will be more difficult than most people had expected, meaning that more sick and disabled people are likely to lose their Medicaid coverage.—
Tara Bannow,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
There are special additional rules for households with elderly or disabled members.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The child was helpless against the power of the surging surf, injured while tossed by the waves.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
-
American society—grotesquely unequal and divided, helpless before its demagogic and oligarchic manipulators—is no longer a stranger to the dark ambiguities of lopsided economic progress.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The protest largely crippled the country’s center, with highways closed and public transportation halted by the massive crowds in both Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv metro area.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
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Every team has injuries, but the Packers’ laundry list crippled a team that, when largely healthy, was a legitimate Super Bowl contender.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The Lord in your convent frightened me, Jesus with his bloody palms and gaping mouth, eyes rolled back in terror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
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
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
Adjective
-
As the story goes, attendance was weak, the weather was bad, and the tournament experience was just lacking.—
James Burky,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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As many as 40 states combine one-party control with institutional barriers weak enough to fall to political pressure.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
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As the most unlikely scenario becomes a reality, the Walloon minister-president is incapacitated, and his daughter must sign documents in his name.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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Campbell’s defense attorney Andrew Courossi claimed that all the encounters were consensual, saying that just because the women were intoxicated doesn’t mean they were incapacitated.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Jim Barne and Kit Buchan were terrified of being outed as frauds.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
2 June 2026
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High school senior Lexa is terrified about stepping into the lead role in her school’s spring production.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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