paralyze
verb
par·a·lyze
ˈper-ə-ˌlīz 
ˈpa-rə-
paralyzed; paralyzing
1
: to affect with paralysis
The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.
2
: to make powerless or ineffective
A strike would paralyze the industry.
3
: unnerve
the paralyzing thing is the uncertainty—
Evelyn Whitehead
Evelyn WhiteheadSynonyms
Examples of paralyze in a Sentence
The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.
The air strikes have paralyzed the city's transportation system.
The company was paralyzed by debt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Courtenay Brown Dec 16, 2024 - Economy Trump wildcard paralyzes global central banks
Global policymakers admit that how their economies fare next year largely rests on President-elect Trump and whether his trade agenda becomes a reality.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
In the 1950s, before a vaccine was available, polio killed or paralyzed more than half a million people globally each year, according to the World Health Organization.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, an increasingly consolidated health-care industry has engendered the kinds of too-big-to-fail behemoths that can single-handedly paralyze the system.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024
What can’t be regained is the time wasted by being paralyzed with fear.
—Mark Kane, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paralyze 
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Courtenay Brown, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
In the 1950s, before a vaccine was available, polio killed or paralyzed more than half a million people globally each year, according to the World Health Organization.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, an increasingly consolidated health-care industry has engendered the kinds of too-big-to-fail behemoths that can single-handedly paralyze the system.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024
What can’t be regained is the time wasted by being paralyzed with fear.
—Mark Kane, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paralyze
Dictionary Entries Near paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyze. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paralyze
verb
par·a·lyze
ˈpar-ə-ˌlīz
paralyzed; paralyzing
1
: to affect with paralysis
2
: to make powerless or unable to act, function, or move
Medical Definition
paralyze
transitive verb
par·a·lyze
variants
or British paralyse
paralyzed or British paralysed; paralyzing or British paralysing
: to affect with paralysis
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