1
as in to cripple
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
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2
as in to intimidate
to deprive of courage or confidence
the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything
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1
as in crippling
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyze
Kalyan Singhal, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025
Moving Forward With Strategic Confidence Economic uncertainty should not paralyze your business's strategy.
—David Zybin, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
That can have the effect of paralyzing the Fed, preventing officials from moving interest rates higher or lower.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Verb
Dean Kahler, 19, was permanently paralyzed by his injury.
—Kalyan Singhal, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025
Moving Forward With Strategic Confidence Economic uncertainty should not paralyze your business's strategy.
—David Zybin, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
His administration’s trade policy has also been marked by flip-flopping and delays, with the resulting uncertainty paralyzing businesses, which are unsure whether to hire and invest.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
That can have the effect of paralyzing the Fed, preventing officials from moving interest rates higher or lower.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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