paralytic

1 of 2

adjective

par·​a·​lyt·​ic ˌper-ə-ˈli-tik 

ˌpa-rə-

1

: affected with, characterized by, or causing paralysis

2

: of, relating to, or resembling paralysis

paralytically

ˌper-ə-ˈli-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌpa-rə-

adverb

paralytic

2 of 2

noun

: one affected with paralysis

Synonyms

Adjective

• paralyzed

Examples of paralytic in a Sentence

Adjective

a group of paralytic drunks

at first, he would not accept that he was now paralytic and needed help

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

An additional 200,000 paralytic polio cases per year if programs are permanently ceased. —Avery Lotz, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025

In addition to performance anxiety, my rigid musical education had left me with an almost paralytic inability to improvise or play by ear. —Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025

Noun

In Florida, death row inmates who choose lethal injection receive a three-drug cocktail consisting of a sedative, a paralytic and a heart-stopping drug, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. —Elizabeth Pritchett, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2025

The nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center said Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart. —Curt Anderson, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English paralytyk, from Anglo-French paralitik, from Latin paralyticus, from Greek paralytikos, from paralyein

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for paralytic

• analytic
• anxiolytic
• astrocytic
• austenitic
• catalytic
• cytolytic
• dioritic
• diphtheritic
• dolomitic
• endophytic
• epiphytic
• glauconitic

Kids Definition

paralytic

1 of 2 adjective

par·​a·​lyt·​ic ˌpar-ə-ˈlit-ik 

1

: affected with, marked by, or causing paralysis

2

: of, relating to, or resembling paralysis

paralytic

2 of 2 noun

: one affected with paralysis

Medical Definition

paralytic

1 of 2 adjective

par·​a·​lyt·​ic ˌpar-ə-ˈlit-ik 

1

: affected with or characterized by paralysis

2

: of, relating to, causing, or resembling paralysis

paralytic

2 of 2 noun

: one affected with paralysis