1
as in to cripple
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 paralyze
Luckily for Wendy, her mom took the news well, realizing that her daughter and her four degrees offer her plenty of options, but this remains a perfect example of how Wendy, like the rest of the cast, has been paralyzed by the need to present a certain image.
—
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Roosevelt ran a country and won a war in a wheelchair, after polio paralyzed him.
—Tribune Content Agency, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024
The turmoil has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan.
—Kim Tong-Hyung and Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
This move paralyzes them and causes the whale sharks to slip into a kind of trance.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paralyze 
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Roosevelt ran a country and won a war in a wheelchair, after polio paralyzed him.
—Tribune Content Agency, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024
The turmoil has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan.
—Kim Tong-Hyung and Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
This move paralyzes them and causes the whale sharks to slip into a kind of trance.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The Theatre of Dreams no longer intimidates opponents.Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
-
The terrorism charge, under New York law, can be applied if the act is intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or influence government policies.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
In 2010, a UPS cargo flight was involved in a fatal accident when a cargo pallet containing tens of thousands of lithium batteries caused a fire in the hold, which eventually incapacitated the pilots and damaged the flight controls, causing the aircraft to crash in Dubai.Barry Collins, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
-
Workers incapacitated by pregnancy could get an additional two weeks.Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
But these videos have gotten increasingly ominous and predatory, even frightening me at times.Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024
-
Walking into that pitch-black space, not seeing anything while having my eyes wide open exhilarated and frightened me.Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
He is also set on handing his successor a strong economy -- a feat that could be undermined by a sudden energy shock reprising the price spikes earlier in his administration.Jeff Stein and Ellen Nakashima The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Dec. 2024
-
Television—as noise, as news, as something to do instead of killing yourself—stalks the text of this lyric, undermining the poetic form’s association with idyll.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
There’s a story about a packet of Skittles causing humiliation in the airport, and an engrossing tale about an unintentionally terrifying Peppa Pig performance at a children’s party.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
-
My Hugo would chase it and bark at it, or he'd be terrified.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
An easy monetary policy typically weakens a country’s currency, making exports cheaper and potentially supports growth in the face of tariffs.Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
-
This rare condition occurs when the ligaments holding the lower ribs in place weaken, allowing the ribs to move out of position and causing pain.Lindsay Curtis, Health, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
In their colorful garb, participants move to the sounds of drums and loud music meant to both honor the ancestors and scare away lingering spirits.Sasha C. Wells / Made by History, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024
-
Today in Colorado and across the West the boogeyman used to scare us into cutting down forests is the natural and essential process of wildfire.Josh Schlossberg, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share