1
as in cripples
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frightens
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
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Recent Examples of paralyzes
Monster blizzard paralyzes Northeast with extreme snow, soaring power outages.
—
FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Turning his challenge into a mission and helping others overcome what paralyzes them.
—Isabella Kunde, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, Dane himself announced that he had been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease, which gradually paralyzes the body by destroying the nerve cells that control muscle movement.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 25 Nov. 2025
Our lack of understanding paralyzes our ability to get in front of the supply.
—Dr. Shravani Durbhakula, Time, 19 Nov. 2025
Catching a glimpse of Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre temporarily paralyzes his victims much the same way a glance from Medusa will turn someone into stone.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
This paralyzes executives and creates fatigue.
—Nick Ryan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The smaller wasp quickly stings the spider, injecting its powerful venom that does not kill but permanently paralyzes it.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Turning his challenge into a mission and helping others overcome what paralyzes them.
—Isabella Kunde, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, Dane himself announced that he had been diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease, which gradually paralyzes the body by destroying the nerve cells that control muscle movement.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 25 Nov. 2025
Our lack of understanding paralyzes our ability to get in front of the supply.
—Dr. Shravani Durbhakula, Time, 19 Nov. 2025
Catching a glimpse of Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre temporarily paralyzes his victims much the same way a glance from Medusa will turn someone into stone.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
This paralyzes executives and creates fatigue.
—Nick Ryan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The smaller wasp quickly stings the spider, injecting its powerful venom that does not kill but permanently paralyzes it.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzes
Verb
-
After an onboard explosion cripples the spacecraft, Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) and his crew are left working through a chain of problems with limited oxygen, power and time.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
These pressures could produce a tsunami that fractures the state’s fiscal foundation, self-inflicts a crisis ultimately demanding drastic cuts, and cripples its competitiveness.—
Andrew Rein,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The piercing sunlight frightens her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Like the 1987 Kurt Vonnegut novel from which the restaurant took its name, Bluebeard encourages guests to drop their guard, surround themselves with other people and try something that frightens them a little.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lorenzo confronts and incapacitates Pepe, Sonia’s main ally, before facing Sonia herself.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Frankly, the thought of being beaten by the subscribers terrifies me.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Aubry Bracco is the kind of player who terrifies a certain (male) demographic of Survivor alumni.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Themes of self-sacrifice dance around the script, but for a film that deals with such dark ideas as isolation and death in space, the film undermines its own pathos at every opportunity.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But once again, The Saviors undermines its own relevance by handling its characters like props being used to make a point, rather than people with their own complex motivations or contradictions.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Geopolitical scares that faded and allowed oil prices to recede.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
He’s also been involved in multiple injury scares to star players in the last year.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dark money significantly weakens democracy.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Even as the wealth tax debate weakens Khanna’s support among Silicon Valley heavyweights, this may not be enough to unseat him, Maviglio said, noting the tax would affect fewer than 250 people in the state.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The case has heightened concerns among Canada’s Iranian diaspora, many of whom have warned for years that Tehran monitors and intimidates critics abroad.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe her coolness intimidates them, or her green eyes.—
Rodrigo Hasbún,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzes. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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