paralyzed

adjective

par·​a·​lyzed ˈper-ə-ˌlīzd 

ˈpa-rə-

1

: affected with paralysis

If the right hemisphere of the brain is badly damaged in its sensory (parietal) areas, patients may show … an unawareness that anything is the matter, even though the left side of their body is senseless or paralyzed.

—Oliver Sacks

Thousands of paralyzed people worldwide are in the socially closed-off state.

—Christen Brownlee

2

: rendered incapable of movement or action

I was not found by the teacher until what seemed to me hours later but was probably five minutes, paralyzed with fright.

—Kay Boyle

Those who uncover plagiarism become paralyzed with embarrassment, letting the culprit escape rather than confronting him.

—Walter Kendrick

Synonyms

• paralytic

Examples of paralyzed in a Sentence

special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs

a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the prime minister’s assurances, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a U.N. official said the government remains paralyzed. —Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

There was the woman who came to every meeting combative and quick-tempered (fight), the one who broke down in tears at every one-on-one and eventually took extended leave (flight), and the one who seemed paralyzed by the sheer volume of work (freeze). —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

The film follows the personal and professional life of Reeve before and after the near-fatal horseback riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. —Andrew Torgan, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024

Chronicling his personal and professional life before and after the near-fatal horseback riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down, the film uses Reeve's own words, as well as extended interviews with Reeve’s three children about their father. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1