Synonyms of paralyze

paralyze 1 of 2

verb (1)

1

as in to cripple

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move

a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cripple
• incapacitate
• undermine
• weaken
• immobilize
• disable
• hamstring
• undercut
• attenuate
• debilitate
• prostrate
• sap
• maim
• enfeeble
• mutilate
• hobble
• enervate
• tire
• knock out
• lame

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• energize
• galvanize
• invigorate
• vitalize
• strengthen
• fortify
• empower
• restore
• revive
• revitalize
• rejuvenate
• regenerate
• refresh
• freshen
• refreshen

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intimidate
• frighten
• terrify
• scare
• emasculate
• unnerve
• demoralize
• unsettle
• undo
• debilitate
• unman
• weaken
• waste
• terrorize
• discourage
• disturb
• enfeeble
• enervate
• soften
• unstring
• sap
• neuter
• daunt
• dishearten
• upset
• dispirit
• unbalance
• unhinge
• perturb
• psych (out)
• derange
• tire
• dismay
• faze
• prostrate
• disquiet
• craze
• discompose
• madden
• weird out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nerve
• strengthen
• encourage
• fortify
• embolden
• hearten

paralyzing

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of paralyze

1

as in crippling

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move

a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crippling
• incapacitating
• undermining
• disabling
• weakening
• immobilizing
• debilitating
• hamstringing
• undercutting
• sapping
• attenuating
• enervating
• prostrating
• tiring
• enfeebling
• mutilating
• maiming
• hobbling
• laming
• knocking out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• energizing
• galvanizing
• invigorating
• vitalizing
• strengthening
• empowering
• fortifying
• restoring
• reviving
• revitalizing
• rejuvenating
• regenerating
• refreshing
• freshening
• refreshening

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

• frightening
• terrifying
• intimidating
• scaring
• unnerving
• emasculating
• demoralizing
• unsettling
• debilitating
• undoing
• wasting
• weakening
• unmanning
• discouraging
• enervating
• enfeebling
• sapping
• disturbing
• terrorizing
• unstringing
• softening
• upsetting
• daunting
• neutering
• tiring
• disheartening
• dispiriting
• unbalancing
• maddening
• disquieting
• dismaying
• perturbing
• deranging
• unhinging
• psyching (out)
• prostrating
• crazing
• fazing
• discomposing
• weirding out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthening
• nerving
• fortifying
• encouraging
• emboldening
• heartening