1
as in to cripple
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to intimidate
to deprive of courage or confidence
the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyze
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, 9 Jan. 2025
However, the database also safeguards against disruptions by providing a fully functional backup system in the event that a cyberattack paralyzes a hospital's primary billing database—which was not among our original goals when developing the tool.
—Chandler Barron, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
It was also seen as a concession by Hezbollah and, some analysts said, an acknowledgment that the group was no longer in a position to paralyze the state.
—Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The mere thought of seeing thousands of children paralyzed or unable to breathe on their own underscores the devastating consequences of undermining science and public health.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paralyze 
Courtenay Brown, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
However, the database also safeguards against disruptions by providing a fully functional backup system in the event that a cyberattack paralyzes a hospital's primary billing database—which was not among our original goals when developing the tool.
—Chandler Barron, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
It was also seen as a concession by Hezbollah and, some analysts said, an acknowledgment that the group was no longer in a position to paralyze the state.
—Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The mere thought of seeing thousands of children paralyzed or unable to breathe on their own underscores the devastating consequences of undermining science and public health.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
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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For the uninitiated, dragon fruit can be intimidating.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Jan. 2025
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Frame Criticisms Constructively Delivering critical feedback or raising concerns can be intimidating, but CEOs value honesty when it’s delivered thoughtfully.—
Chiara Alzati,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In the meantime, he’s incapacitated, which means that — per Monty’s will — Tommy is president of MTex, as well as the head of Monty’s estate and his family trust.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 Jan. 2025
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Hezbollah has been decapitated, its top echelons wiped out, and thousands of its fighters are incapacitated or dead.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Where another artist might rely on grotesque specifics to frighten the reader, Mignola’s insinuating expanses of black ink conceal all but the most necessary details of a rich and malevolent world, filled with monstrosities, yes, but also oddities, many of them delightful.—
Sam Thielman,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
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As the devastating wildfires began to sweep across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, frightened residents were not turning to Netflix.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After all, starting a North American trade war would undermine Trump’s promises to turbocharge the US economy and attack the cost of living.—
Matt Egan,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
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As Coursera's Chief Content Officer Marni Baker-Stein emphasizes, this profound gender gap in AI and data science, where women represent just 22% of professionals, undermines both social equity and the effectiveness of AI technology development.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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At the Commerce Department, employees were terrified whenever a meeting was called, one worker said.—
Erica L. Green,
New York Times,
25 Jan. 2025
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Set in a German port in the 1830s, the remake follows a haunted young woman named Ellen Hutter (Depp) and Count Orlok (Skarsgård), the terrifying vampire who becomes infatuated with her.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With rising conflicts and weakened diplomacy, the global order is set to fragment in 2025, intensifying economic volatility.—
Sarwant Singh,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Beijing has also been working to repair ties with American allies like Japan to try to weaken the security alliances forged by the Biden administration to constrain China.—
David Pierson,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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All these precautions are not meant to scare people, Tetro and Gerba said, but to inform.—
Melanie Radzicki McManus,
CNN,
25 Jan. 2025
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Because these WMAs are designed to provide two conflicting services — to maintain wildlife habitat and to offer recreation, including hunting opportunities that may scare the birds away — no one really knows how the resident geese perceive the situation.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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