as in disability
complete or partial loss of physical function (as motion or sensation) in a part of the body the car accident left one athlete with paralysis from the waist down

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paralysis Later, the New York Post reported, she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, a brain bleed, partial paralysis and loss of peripheral vision on her right side. Debra J. Saunders, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 2025 Botulism is a type of food poisoning that causes life-threatening symptoms including paralysis and difficulty breathing, according to the California Department of Public Health. Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025 There’s so much angst in the national conservation community that paralysis has replaced pragmatism. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 26 Feb. 2025 Its weaknesses are fire, poison, paralysis and sleep. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
  • This includes many children, people who are pregnant, elderly people with low incomes and people with disabilities.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Impacts will include teacher shortages and a loss in professional development and salaries for specialists who work with students with disabilities, the attorneys general said.
    April Rubin, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Here's a closer look at the eight winners, who represent a range of disabilities, including speech and hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities and low vision.
    Charu Bahri, NPR, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Both were designed to address specific needs (accessibility for people with disabilities or hearing impairments) but have since benefited everyone, from parents pushing strollers to viewers watching on mute.
    Farah Bala, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Embiid, though, was still battling injury throughout that series, which included Bell’s palsy.
    Scott Thompson, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
  • No serious side effects were reported during the trial period, but once the vaccine was released, Swiss officials saw a concerning uptick in cases of Bell’s palsy, a disease that causes weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, often leading to a drooping or disfigured face.
    Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • At the same time, there are growing signs of weakness.
    Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
  • No one wants to lay out their struggles in a room where competitors are listening, ready to pounce on any sign of weakness.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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