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
These figures can feel abstract, even paralyzing.
—
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
Lane harrowingly captures the paralyzing fear of being ordinary, while Metcalf will overwhelm you with the sheer emotion of her performance as Willy’s fiercely loyal wife, Linda.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 May 2026
According to some experts, this paralyzing fear and desperation are factors that scammers exploit to put their criminal schemes into action.
—Albinson Linares, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
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
But even selecting the best neutral for your space can be paralyzing.
—Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 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
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 May 2026
Lane harrowingly captures the paralyzing fear of being ordinary, while Metcalf will overwhelm you with the sheer emotion of her performance as Willy’s fiercely loyal wife, Linda.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 May 2026
According to some experts, this paralyzing fear and desperation are factors that scammers exploit to put their criminal schemes into action.
—Albinson Linares, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
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
But even selecting the best neutral for your space can be paralyzing.
—Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzing
Verb
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But, in a separate incident reported by Reuters, it was revealed that Musk did cut service in eastern Ukraine around the same time, crippling a planned Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson.—
Ben Tarnoff,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
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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
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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Starring Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Jong-won, the film follows a road-view camera crew that encounters terrifying supernatural events at a remote reservoir.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The air in the room changed immediately, terrifying little Liza.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While the court technically kept Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act intact, the ruling contributes to a series of decisions undermining the landmark 1965 law that protected racial minorities' collective voting power.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
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But more than half fear that politicization and confusion are undermining vaccine access.—
Michael C. Burgess,
STAT,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This is the page in the racing program full of numbers, abbreviations and lines that looks intimidating at first.—
Neil Greenberg,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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The Chapitos helped Rocha Moya, who has been governor since November 2021, get elected by stealing ballots, as well as kidnapping and intimidating opponents, the document said.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After disabling Gemini and losing all those features, Gmail offers you a second chance with a pop-up nag that reenables all those features, including Gemini.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
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In addition to severe, disabling headache pain, a migraine can also trigger processes that affect the rest of your body and interfere with normal sensory function.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Plus, nobody will careen past you at 110 mph, scaring you spitless.—
Allen Best,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzing. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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