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
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Recent Examples of paralyzed
Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Travel was all but paralyzed in the Northeast after 2 to 3 inches an hour fell from New York to Massachusetts early Monday.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The death of a major cartel boss in Mexico has unleashed a violent backlash in which members of the criminal group have paralyzed some cities through blockades and attacks on property and security forces.
—Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
The crash left him paralyzed from the neck down.
—Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Travel was all but paralyzed in the Northeast after 2 to 3 inches an hour fell from New York to Massachusetts early Monday.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
In 2021, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies shot and permanently paralyzed a deaf autistic man after family members called 911 for help getting him to a hospital.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The death of a major cartel boss in Mexico has unleashed a violent backlash in which members of the criminal group have paralyzed some cities through blockades and attacks on property and security forces.
—Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
-
At the time, Schiller, a mom to a neurotypical child and a daughter with a rare genetic disease called Angelman syndrome, had more on her plate in the blink of an eye after her husband suffered a stroke that left him disabled.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The one-time employee, 27-year-old Saturs Allison, is charged with assault and battery on a disabled person.—
Cheryl Fiandaca,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Mikey Eyssimont fed Khusnutdinov low in the right circle and, with a Fraser Minten screen, snapped it past the helpless Skinner for his 13th of the season.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
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There had been a prior collision with Marc Guehi, but the hosts’ No 9 had to ask the question of VAR by nestling the ball either side of a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The kingdom has suffered the fallout from regional conflicts before, most notably during a 2019 attack on its Abqaiq processing facility — claimed by Iran’s Houthi allies — that briefly crippled its output.—
Salma El Wardany,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
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Ordinary Iranians objected to the country’s intrusive authoritarian system, an economy crippled by devastating international sanctions intended to coerce the regime to curb its nuclear program, and the mullahs’ preoccupation with international affairs.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That habit didn’t endear the Alspaws to anyone nearby, including one neighbor who threatened to shoot Brittany after the Alspaws frightened his horses.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
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Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The paralytic effect typically lasts for four to six minutes.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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As the New York Post reported, Malinda Cook, a nurse anesthetist at Virginia Commonwealth University Health, encouraged medical professionals to drug ICE agents with paralytic meds in a series of TikTok videos.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But relying on the military to supplant the role traditionally performed by civilian law enforcement entails risks in a region where military institutions and oversight are weaker, armed forces have a legacy of human rights abuses and corruption is a perennial challenge.—
JOSHUA GOODMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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January’s stronger-than-expected total was likely buoyed by some one-time factors (notably, weaker holiday hiring that meant fewer post-holiday layoffs, and unseasonably warm weather in the early part of the month that boosted industries like construction).—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jenny was traumatized and incapacitated for weeks.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Bhusri and Duffield’s agreement also means that if one of the cofounders is incapacitated or dies, the other gets control of both stakes.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Pilgrim Mariana Muicaru said she was terrified during her time in Israel as rockets flew across the sky.—
Stefanie Dazio,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
He’s terrified appropriately of the task at hand.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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