incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 
incapacitated; incapacitating
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
When your inheritance involves a death The reality of inheritances is that most happen after a loved one dies or experiences an incapacitating health event.
—
Janet Arzt, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
In both of Bonta’s lawsuits related to federal firings, the attorney general asserted Trump had violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which prevents the president from using reduction in force process to incapacitate the Education Department from functioning.
—William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025
Why did no one check on him the previous day when he was incapacitated by a Gemma fever dream on his couch?
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
That has incapacitated some national tuberculosis programs, with the WHO warning of devastating impacts in 18 countries with the highest burden of disease, many of which are in Africa.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
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Janet Arzt, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
In both of Bonta’s lawsuits related to federal firings, the attorney general asserted Trump had violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which prevents the president from using reduction in force process to incapacitate the Education Department from functioning.
—William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 14 Mar. 2025
Why did no one check on him the previous day when he was incapacitated by a Gemma fever dream on his couch?
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
That has incapacitated some national tuberculosis programs, with the WHO warning of devastating impacts in 18 countries with the highest burden of disease, many of which are in Africa.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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
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