1
as in crippling
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 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
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Recent Examples of paralyzing
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
Many of the last 50 years in state government were most notable for the paralyzing search to find the money to fund the budget.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
The Islamic Republic has shut down the internet and cut off telephone communications, paralyzing the country.
—Shahrnush Parsipur, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
But even before their deaths and ensuing public outcry, James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Sherman saw fear paralyzing the city’s food community.
—Serena Maria Daniels, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
The Marvel series is a surprisingly tender meditation on perfectionism, performance, and the paralyzing fear of not being enough.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Many of the last 50 years in state government were most notable for the paralyzing search to find the money to fund the budget.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
The Islamic Republic has shut down the internet and cut off telephone communications, paralyzing the country.
—Shahrnush Parsipur, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
But even before their deaths and ensuing public outcry, James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Sherman saw fear paralyzing the city’s food community.
—Serena Maria Daniels, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
The Marvel series is a surprisingly tender meditation on perfectionism, performance, and the paralyzing fear of not being enough.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzing
Verb
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After June 2025, when Israel (for 12 days) and the United States (for one) launched strikes aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and decapitating the IRGC leadership, Khamenei curtailed public appearances.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
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So if half that tariff money goes away, that will mean a larger, but not crippling federal deficit.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
21 Feb. 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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Larter's Angela has been put through the wringer on the second season of Landman, from getting into an explosive battle with Thornton's Tommy over her period to getting arrested for incapacitating two health inspectors during a visit to her local nursing home.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Jan. 2026
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Dysentery and scurvy ravaged the vessel, killing or incapacitating many on board.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One 27-year-old Tehran resident said a strike fell a few hundred yards away from her house, terrifying her with the explosion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Like the strung-up coyotes, the Ghoul typically looks normal from afar but terrifying up close.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The challenge for policymakers will be to curb misleading promotion without cutting off patients’ access to reliable information or undermining their role in directing their own care – and that will likely require addressing broader issues in the health care system.—
Anna Chorniy,
The Conversation,
27 Feb. 2026
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In the run-up to the midterm elections later this year, Kennedy appears to be shifting his focus from undermining the childhood-vaccine schedule—his least popular priority, according to one recent poll—to battling the food industry, which enjoys broad support.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Lord of the Rings Sauron’s Helmet Build an impressive replica of Sauron’s intimidating helmet, complete with a display stand, name plaque, and a minifigure clutching the One Ring.—
Brittany Anas,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
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British pubs can be intimidating for visitors.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Knuckling under the pressure to do something about this, Congress eventually passed a law that essentially denied such benefits to anyone whose only disabling condition was drug addiction or alcoholism.—
Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Mar. 2026
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Even if the rates of death and disabling disease remain roughly the same, as case numbers grow, so too will the absolute amount of suffering.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The growing conflict is also drawing concern on the other side of the Arabian Peninsula, scaring away carriers that had sought to make a more regular return to the Suez Canal.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Mar. 2026
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Guadalajara will be hosting matches this summer, in what’s expected to be an economic boon for the state of Jalisco, and Sheinbaum will no doubt be wary of scaring off would-be tourists.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzing. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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