1
as in crippling
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frightening
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 paralyzing
The Congress also had in mind President Woodrow Wilson’s paralyzing stroke in 1919 and President Eisenhower’s serious illnesses, including a heart attack that disabled him for six weeks.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
At age 14, Arias was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gangs, paralyzing him from the waist down.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or COPA, is currently recommending that a Chicago police officer be fired for shooting and paralyzing a 13-year-old back in 2022.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree triggered the country’s most severe political crisis in decades, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
The differences between the two major models, along with other forecast guidance, equates to the difference between a paralyzing blizzard along the I-95 corridor and a largely forgettable bout of light snow.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Because of the paralyzing fear caused by their operation, small businesses whose customer bases and workforces include immigrant community members temporarily closed due to the sharp drop in customers and fear that their businesses would be subject to CBP raids.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
McDonald was only 20 months on the job when a 15-year-old suspect, Shavod Jones, opened fire on him in Central Park on July 12, 1986, striking McDonald in the face, neck and wrist, and paralyzing him instantly.
—Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
At age 14, Arias was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gangs, paralyzing him from the waist down.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or COPA, is currently recommending that a Chicago police officer be fired for shooting and paralyzing a 13-year-old back in 2022.
—Jermont Terry, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree triggered the country’s most severe political crisis in decades, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
The differences between the two major models, along with other forecast guidance, equates to the difference between a paralyzing blizzard along the I-95 corridor and a largely forgettable bout of light snow.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Because of the paralyzing fear caused by their operation, small businesses whose customer bases and workforces include immigrant community members temporarily closed due to the sharp drop in customers and fear that their businesses would be subject to CBP raids.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
McDonald was only 20 months on the job when a 15-year-old suspect, Shavod Jones, opened fire on him in Central Park on July 12, 1986, striking McDonald in the face, neck and wrist, and paralyzing him instantly.
—Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzing
Verb
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Eden outlined how, by crippling universities over charges of antisemitism, McMahon could also achieve larger goals.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Confidence in Israel’s ability to seriously damage Iran’s nuclear program has slipped from 62% to 48%; expectations of crippling its ballistic missile arsenal have dropped from 73% to 57%.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One of four passengers in Bain’s car, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, suffered incapacitating injuries and was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial from the scene, according to the report.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
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The defendant at the trial, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, argued that its policy covered only losses resulting from a medically verified, incapacitating illness.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Directed by Lee Sang-min, the film stars Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Jong-won as a road-view camera crew that encounters terrifying supernatural events at a remote reservoir.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
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The air in the room changed immediately, terrifying little Liza.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The markets, which include Polymarket and its chief rival Kalshi, have been criticized for everything from undermining the integrity of sports to contributing to an online betting addiction crisis among young men.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Any sustained rise in energy prices risks widening the current account deficit and undermining macroeconomic stability.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While some online say their attire looks intimidating, people who have worked with them personally say otherwise.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Manufacturers typically design steering wheel locks to look intimidating to thieves.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lending more credence to that theory is Dell’s explanation when asked about disabling HEVC support in November.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
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To qualify for the Alsip housing, residents must be chronically homeless and have a disabling condition, which Rounds said often prevents them from working or living independently.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This isn’t a film about trauma, or smuggled-in social issues, or anything at all, really, besides the honest workaday business of scaring the bejesus out of its audience, rinsing, and repeating with extra vigor.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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And with it almost out in the world, that’s scaring him a little bit.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzing. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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