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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyzing
Rows sit silent at Karmel Mall as the immigration crackdown terrifies customers and workers, paralyzing the economic hub for Minneapolis’s largest Somali population.
—
Sarah Raza, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
At the end of his first year as CEO, a blizzard known as Winter Storm Elliott triggered an operational meltdown, stranding thousands of Southwest customers at the height of the holiday season, paralyzing the company’s point-to-point network, and plunging the company into a profit-killing crisis.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
No matter the scenario, Victor portrays PTSD as a paralyzing force with accuracy and grace—an all-too-rare combination.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Lock had previously pled guilty to fleeing police resulting in great bodily harm for paralyzing Anthony.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
That legal instability, combined with the slow pace of public funding, has created a paralyzing climate.
—Caio Delcolli, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
The paralyzing blasts of electricity that an electric eel delivers arise from a sleeve of tissue that wraps around the animal’s body.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
And those victories, for now, have deepened the divide that is paralyzing Washington.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
In rare cases, the toxin can spread beyond the injection site to other parts of the body, paralyzing or weakening muscles needed for breathing and swallowing.
—CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Sarah Raza, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
At the end of his first year as CEO, a blizzard known as Winter Storm Elliott triggered an operational meltdown, stranding thousands of Southwest customers at the height of the holiday season, paralyzing the company’s point-to-point network, and plunging the company into a profit-killing crisis.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
No matter the scenario, Victor portrays PTSD as a paralyzing force with accuracy and grace—an all-too-rare combination.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025
Lock had previously pled guilty to fleeing police resulting in great bodily harm for paralyzing Anthony.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
That legal instability, combined with the slow pace of public funding, has created a paralyzing climate.
—Caio Delcolli, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
The paralyzing blasts of electricity that an electric eel delivers arise from a sleeve of tissue that wraps around the animal’s body.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
And those victories, for now, have deepened the divide that is paralyzing Washington.
—ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
In rare cases, the toxin can spread beyond the injection site to other parts of the body, paralyzing or weakening muscles needed for breathing and swallowing.
—CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzing
Verb
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Both have endured crippling US sanctions that have precipitated economic collapses.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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None of that was fearful because fear of the unknown, like fear of, showing up in a situation and not knowing what's gonna happen is like, that's a thing that's like crippling to adults and definitely crippling to teenagers.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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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
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Kids will love sending this Dilophosaurus sauntering across the floor, frightening everything and everyone in his path.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The only way to repair the rift and deal with the incapacitating grief is through art.—
James Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2025
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He is accused of slipping incapacitating drugs into victims’ food or drinks before assaulting them between 2021 and 2024.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s terrifying on a whole different level.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
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At another level, there does seem to be something absurd and even terrifying about the idea that someone who is not elected can become the leader of a country and then will be recognized as the leader of that country and receive the immunities afforded to heads of state.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cho’s team argued in court that Yoon sought to prolong his hold on power by undermining South Korea’s constitutional system of governance.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His whole body shook, intimidating everyone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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With the season on the line, the 49ers locked in and defied the intimidating circumstances yet again.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors allege Paul Caneiro cut the power to his brother's home, disabling a surveillance system that hours earlier picked up Keith leaving an angry message for Paul.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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The suit seeks compensation, noting that Dinkins has suffered permanent, disabling injuries that will limit his future earning capacity.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After scaring off the animal, one of the hikers, a physician, attempted to revive Kovatch, but did not find a pulse.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
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Talk openly about world events—without scaring them Even young children absorb bits of information about conflict, violence, and disaster—whether through classmates, TV in a waiting room, or overheard adult conversations.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Parents,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzing. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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