paralyze
verb
par·a·lyze
ˈper-ə-ˌlīz 
ˈpa-rə-
paralyzed; paralyzing
1
: to affect with paralysis
The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.
2
: to make powerless or ineffective
A strike would paralyze the industry.
3
: unnerve
the paralyzing thing is the uncertainty—
Evelyn Whitehead
Evelyn WhiteheadExamples of paralyze in a Sentence
The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.
The air strikes have paralyzed the city's transportation system.
The company was paralyzed by debt.
Recent Examples on the Web
He was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died three months later.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
The disturbing event all but paralyzes Kyle on the couch as the viral loathing continues.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
The years between the referendum and Britain’s formal departure at the end of January 2020 were paralyzed by debate over the terms of its exit.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Hate discourse is so overwhelming that, rather than allowing themselves to be paralyzed by fear, nongovernmental organizations from San Diego and other cities in the United States, Canada and Europe are reaching out to ask, some for the first time, how to support and collaborate at the border.
—Frida Guiza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
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Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2025
The disturbing event all but paralyzes Kyle on the couch as the viral loathing continues.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
The years between the referendum and Britain’s formal departure at the end of January 2020 were paralyzed by debate over the terms of its exit.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Hate discourse is so overwhelming that, rather than allowing themselves to be paralyzed by fear, nongovernmental organizations from San Diego and other cities in the United States, Canada and Europe are reaching out to ask, some for the first time, how to support and collaborate at the border.
—Frida Guiza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyze. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paralyze
verb
par·a·lyze
ˈpar-ə-ˌlīz
paralyzed; paralyzing
1
: to affect with paralysis
2
: to make powerless or unable to act, function, or move
Medical Definition
paralyze
transitive verb
par·a·lyze
variants
or British paralyse
paralyzed or British paralysed; paralyzing or British paralysing
: to affect with paralysis
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