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
The disease can be paralyzing, or even fatal.
—
Ciara McCarthy 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Moorehead has followed Clark’s story from 2000, when the running back for Eisenhower High School suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury in a game through his death in 2012.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Jordan Peele originated the idea of the seemingly never-ending paralyzing nightmare trap in his 2017 blockbuster.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
But Leo isn’t the only VIP who'll be paralyzing much of Madrid this weekend.
—ABC News, 6 June 2026
The plan would block global flights at certain airports, paralyzing travel for some of the biggest cities in the country — especially New York City.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 28 May 2026
The Vietnam War and Watergate had spawned a paralyzing sense of national distrust, and New Hollywood had reflected that reality beautifully but pessimistically.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
To him, these alliances resemble the tiny Lilliputians trying to bind the giant Gulliver with paralyzing strings.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 11 May 2026
These figures can feel abstract, even paralyzing.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
Ciara McCarthy 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Moorehead has followed Clark’s story from 2000, when the running back for Eisenhower High School suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury in a game through his death in 2012.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Jordan Peele originated the idea of the seemingly never-ending paralyzing nightmare trap in his 2017 blockbuster.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
But Leo isn’t the only VIP who'll be paralyzing much of Madrid this weekend.
—ABC News, 6 June 2026
The plan would block global flights at certain airports, paralyzing travel for some of the biggest cities in the country — especially New York City.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 28 May 2026
The Vietnam War and Watergate had spawned a paralyzing sense of national distrust, and New Hollywood had reflected that reality beautifully but pessimistically.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
To him, these alliances resemble the tiny Lilliputians trying to bind the giant Gulliver with paralyzing strings.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 11 May 2026
These figures can feel abstract, even paralyzing.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzing
Verb
-
The fall broke both his legs, crippling him.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
14 June 2026
-
The Ukrainian military sank several Russian warships in the Black Sea and at their Crimean bases, crippling Moscow’s naval capability and forcing it to redeploy its fleet to Novorossiysk.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
This war has been a disaster for them, frightening away foreign investors, tourists and talent and burdening them with a future of huge new defense bills to deter Iran after the United States is gone.—
Thomas L. Friedman,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Tabitha grabs one of the weird, spooky totem things and drives it through the chest of the scarecrow monster attacking Donna, killing it – or at least incapacitating it – and the scarecrows retreat.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is breathtaking and also terrifying with a 4-year-old along.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
Facing the endless Cylon onslaught in the void of space is terrifying even in 2D battles, but many of Scattered Hopes' gut punches happen during unexpected narrative events or tough choices that doom entire ship populations.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Wembanyama now risks undermining much of that newfound goodwill.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
Roboticists have long sought a compact, energy-efficient pumping technology that can be fully integrated into soft robotic systems without undermining the flexibility and adaptability that make soft robotics attractive in the first place.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
They are expected to be confident but not intimidating, ambitious but not self-promotional, collaborative but not passive, assertive but not aggressive.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Schumer declined to address the divisions in his caucus over Platner amid allegations of unsettling and intimidating behavior by past girlfriends.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Anthropic complied within hours, disabling the models for all customers globally, though other models remain active.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Blessing later ran into a wall, disabling the vehicle.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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But she was saved by three bystanders who yelled out, scaring him off and chasing him through the park, sources said.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
-
Predator decoys that are in constant motion may be most effective at scaring birds.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzing. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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