incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 
incapacitated; incapacitating
Synonyms
Examples of incapacitate in a Sentence
The class teaches you how to incapacitate an attacker.
The stroke left her completely incapacitated.
He was incapacitated by the pain.
a computer system incapacitated by software problems
Recent Examples on the Web
There are exceptions — generally speaking, those who are mentally incapacitated may be able to travel with an escort.
—
Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
On this day in 1919: President Woodrow Wilson suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him incapacitated until the end of his presidency in 1921.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
The explosions killed 37 people — including two children — created widespread fear and incapacitated thousands of Hezbollah’s rank-and-file members, officials and administrators.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
The International Civil Aviation Organization has, for its part, considered the possibility of more frequent lightning causing disruption to flight schedules, damaging aircraft, or incapacitating radar towers.
—Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
On this day in 1919: President Woodrow Wilson suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him incapacitated until the end of his presidency in 1921.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
The explosions killed 37 people — including two children — created widespread fear and incapacitated thousands of Hezbollah’s rank-and-file members, officials and administrators.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
The International Civil Aviation Organization has, for its part, considered the possibility of more frequent lightning causing disruption to flight schedules, damaging aircraft, or incapacitating radar towers.
—Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate
Dictionary Entries Near incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpas-ə-ˌtāt
incapacitated; incapacitating
: to make incapable : disable
Legal Definition
incapacitate
transitive verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt
incapacitated; incapacitating
1
: to make legally incapable or ineligible
mental illness alone will not incapacitate a person from making a valid contract—Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)
Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)2
: to deprive of capacity or natural power
an injury that incapacitates the employee
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share