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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The virus can cause facial paralysis and hearing loss.
—
Janelle Ash, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
Although anyone can experience sleep paralysis, it's more commonly associated with stress, drinking too much alcohol, and sleep deprivation.16
Sleep paralysis may not need specific treatment.
—Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 24 Feb. 2025
Whatever the club’s reasoning, there was something familiar and troubling about this disappointing deadline paralysis.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Mixing traditional doc methods with recreations and creepy genre-movie inflections, that film provided an unsettling exploration of sleep paralysis, a condition in which the mind is wide awake, but the body is frozen.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Janelle Ash, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
Although anyone can experience sleep paralysis, it's more commonly associated with stress, drinking too much alcohol, and sleep deprivation.16
Sleep paralysis may not need specific treatment.
—Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 24 Feb. 2025
Whatever the club’s reasoning, there was something familiar and troubling about this disappointing deadline paralysis.
—Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Mixing traditional doc methods with recreations and creepy genre-movie inflections, that film provided an unsettling exploration of sleep paralysis, a condition in which the mind is wide awake, but the body is frozen.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
-
This would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities.—
Solange Charas,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The Education Department currently disperses the money and makes sure states spend the money on students with disabilities.—
Kayla Jimenez,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
These things will make your video content more accessible for non-native speakers and users with hearing impairments.—
Karan Sharma,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
The increase in loss is attributed to impairment charges on intangible assets and changes in fair value of contingent consideration.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
24 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
Cite this Entry
“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share