1
as in disabled
affected with paralysis
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crippled
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frightened
to deprive of courage or confidence
the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyzed
Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2025
Inside, the wasp provisions its offspring with paralyzed spiders or insects.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
John Liu, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
What people didn’t realize is we were paralyzed with fear.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
The passenger suffered serious injuries that will leave her paralyzed from the waist down, according to the affidavit.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2025
Inside, the wasp provisions its offspring with paralyzed spiders or insects.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Hong Kong/Tokyo — Japan’s favorite beer brand is reeling from a cyberattack that paralyzed its production last week.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
What people didn’t realize is we were paralyzed with fear.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
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There was no legal reason for a prosecutor to do so—the toddler was too young to testify, and disabled from his injuries.—
Charlotte Alter,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
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What Happens Next SSI is a federal program that provides monthly assistance to low-income seniors over 65, along with individuals who are blind or disabled.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These brawls further eroded democratic norms, while driving voters away from left-wing and moderate parties who seemed helpless to halt them.—
Time,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
She was resigned to her fate, helpless with indignation.—
Jack O'Connor,
Outdoor Life,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sanctions have crippled the government’s primary source of revenue, oil exports, limiting the state’s ability to provide for millions of impoverished Iranians through social safety nets.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
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Named for former Cavaliers owner Ted Stepien, who had crippled the franchise by trading five straight first-round picks, it was supposed to protect teams from themselves.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Homelessness While Americans are frightened by many things and events, most are not fearful of tent camps or homeless people.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Oct. 2025
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Around 100 pairs were found abandoned on the roof, perhaps due to the thieves being frightened away, Sheriff John Budensiek said at the news conference.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The sight sends a paralytic tingle of alarm through her.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
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For the past decade, Sughra Ayaz has traveled door to door in southeastern Pakistan, pleading with parents to allow children to be vaccinated against polio as part of a global campaign to wipe out the paralytic disease.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Relief on that levy—which stacks on top of Liberation Day tariffs—could be a boon for the Asian nation at a time when domestic demand is weak.—
Bloomberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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There, interactions between streams of liquid iron generate a magnetic field one quintillion times more powerful than that of an ordinary lab magnet (but thousands of times weaker than the Sun’s).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One caller said a delta-8 gummy incapacitated their adult son for several hours.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Another note that came up in the responses to this question is that everyone, of any age, should make sure that there are plans in place for a friend or relative to take care of the dog if the owner is incapacitated or dies.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Monroe has to slowly tilt from being beguiled and intrigued by Stevens to totally terrified by him, and her ability to pull it off while explosions and gun battles are going on around her sells the film’s tonal shifts perfectly.—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
22 Oct. 2025
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And that would be key going into any future battle with Homelander, who still terrified Neuman.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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