1
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine
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2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitate
These often-invisible afflictions can effectively incapacitate you or, at least, impede your ability to enjoy all kinds of things other people take for granted.
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Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2024
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, armed with a ballistics shield, was struck with multiple high-caliber rounds through a wall, incapacitating him, according to Grinnell.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 7 Aug. 2024
As just one example, farms nationwide would likely be incapacitated in harvesting produce and livestock without the 283,000 undocumented workers who currently comprise 45 percent of the U.S. agricultural workforce.
—Gary Stix, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2024
On September 17, the detonation of thousands of pagers incapacitated hundreds of senior members of the Shiite terrorist organization.
—Ari Shavit, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate 
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2024
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, armed with a ballistics shield, was struck with multiple high-caliber rounds through a wall, incapacitating him, according to Grinnell.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 7 Aug. 2024
As just one example, farms nationwide would likely be incapacitated in harvesting produce and livestock without the 283,000 undocumented workers who currently comprise 45 percent of the U.S. agricultural workforce.
—Gary Stix, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2024
On September 17, the detonation of thousands of pagers incapacitated hundreds of senior members of the Shiite terrorist organization.
—Ari Shavit, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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Sluggish vote counts could fuel distrust in the election, spark lawsuits and even civil unrest, and paralyze both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.Mike Allen, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
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My left leg is, uh, partially paralyzed from my hip to my knee, then from my knee to my toes, completely paralyzed, so if there's any neurosurgeons out there … any researchers out there, please get a hold of me.Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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With polls closing Tuesday evening, officials are warning that foreign adversaries will likely spread false stories about election hacks to undermine trust in the voting process.Sam Sabin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
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Since Musk purchased Twitter, that policy no longer explicitly bans content that seeks to undermine the outcome of an election.Jenn Brice, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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A couple has been injured at an air-guitar concert (yes, seriously) where the air-guitar hero climbed the scaffolding during a performance then fell onto his girlfriend in the crowd.Laura Bradley, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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The 17-year-old suspect in a shooting last week that killed two people and injured eight during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando, Florida, has been charged as an adult, authorities said.Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Israeli bombs were destroying houses and rocket-launch sites across southern Lebanon, in the Bekaa valley, and in Beirut; many of his friends had been killed or maimed.Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024
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In the subsequent Israeli onslaught, more than forty-one thousand Palestinians have been killed, and about a hundred thousand more have been maimed and mutilated.Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Many soldiers were wounded in combat, often at major battles such as Stones River and Gettysburg, but survived until long after the Civil War’s conclusion.Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
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Several were wounded in combat and others fought in critical battles including Gettysburg, Stones River and the Atlanta campaign.CBS News, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As such, users disable Play Protect to allow the app onto their phone.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Comments and like count were disabled from the post.David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The cause of a two-alarm fire Wednesday that displaced 10 residents and killed a pet dog remained under investigation Thursday, officials said.Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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The trial against Richard Allen continues Tuesday, Election Day, in Delphi, Indiana. Allen, 52, is accused of killing two teens who went missing Feb. 13, 2017, and were found dead the next day.Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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