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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of paralyzing
The pressure Alex, who is endowed by Martin with endearing softness and paralyzing self-doubt, feels to be a brave cop, a strong father, and the righteous hero of this story can’t be separated from his experience as a trans man still honing his relationship to masculinity.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
By contrast, maybe such language engenders a sense of defeatism, a belief in the inevitability of collapse which is collectively paralyzing.
—Ed Simon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
This can range from occasional nerves and shyness to paralyzing fears of social situations and people.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 23 Sep. 2025
My anxiety about all this was paralyzing me.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Another flashback, this time in the immediate aftermath of Vince daring a drunken employee to jump from the roof to a neighboring fire escape, paralyzing the man and leaving the Rabbit to pay out half a million dollars.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Audience members don't have to work very hard to imagine the paralyzing terror that King Hang's character feels.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Doctors spent several minutes resuscitating Luka before making the difficult decision to use a paralyzing agent to stop him from moving and potentially hurting himself.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Without these supports, free-will can feel utterly paralyzing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025
By contrast, maybe such language engenders a sense of defeatism, a belief in the inevitability of collapse which is collectively paralyzing.
—Ed Simon
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
This can range from occasional nerves and shyness to paralyzing fears of social situations and people.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 23 Sep. 2025
My anxiety about all this was paralyzing me.
—Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Another flashback, this time in the immediate aftermath of Vince daring a drunken employee to jump from the roof to a neighboring fire escape, paralyzing the man and leaving the Rabbit to pay out half a million dollars.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Audience members don't have to work very hard to imagine the paralyzing terror that King Hang's character feels.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Doctors spent several minutes resuscitating Luka before making the difficult decision to use a paralyzing agent to stop him from moving and potentially hurting himself.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Without these supports, free-will can feel utterly paralyzing.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzing
Verb
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Perreira agrees that the financial imbalance in the game is crippling West Indies.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Related Stories Pogachefsky is now suing 42West and his former employees, accusing them of crippling his company and scuttling his talks to sell the firm.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instances of swatting have been plaguing the nation for years, with fake shooting threats frightening the public and forcing schools, hospitals, grocery stores, office buildings, and airports into temporary lockdowns.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While the name suggests something far more trivial, significant damage to the ligaments of the metatarsophalangeal joint can be incapacitating.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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To write one’s way out of the incapacitating dependence of daughterhood into autonomy means shedding the unquestioning fidelity of a child.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The game is twisted, disturbing, and terrifying in all the right ways.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
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On the same day, 100 cyclists, e-bike and dirt bike riders took over a Boston highway, terrifying local drivers.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The liberties taken elsewhere also go a long way toward undermining the series’ closing message of near-universal empathy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
4 Oct. 2025
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Even the Commission has warned that climate disinformation is undermining support for action.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Guided Stargazing Tours Stargazing in a new-to-you location can feel intimidating.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
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The molasses-like appearance can initially seem intimidating, but the sweetness and richness of flavor is truly unique.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Because fiber-optic drones are harder to produce, they are typically reserved for high-value strikes or for disabling jamming systems to clear the way for cheaper FPVs.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
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The crew then fired three rounds into the starboard engine, disabling the boat about four miles southwest of Point Loma.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The modus operandi generally involved either scaring a convenience store owner and fleeing with thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes, like one such incident at a 7-Eleven in Walnut Creek where masked men stole $8,000 in tobacco products, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
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During today’s announcement, Kennedy at least acknowledged the trade-offs inherent in scaring pregnant Americans off Tylenol, and allowed that, sometimes, using it is unavoidable.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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