Synonyms

incapacitate

American

[in-kuh-pas-i-teyt] / ˌɪn kəˈpæs ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

incapacitated, incapacitating

to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength; make incapable or unfit; disable.

Synonyms:

weaken, impair, sideline, handicap
Law. to deprive of the legal power to act in a specified way or ways.

incapacitate British

/ ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪˌteɪt /

verb

to deprive of power, strength, or capacity; disable
to deprive of legal capacity or eligibility

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

incapacitation noun

Etymology

Origin of incapacitate

First recorded in 1650–60; incapacit(y) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

First of all, they could turn the job down when it comes time to act, or they could be incapacitated themselves.

From MarketWatch

“It looks like two classically shipwrecked people,” Smith said, calling it a “highly questionable decision that these two people on that obviously incapacitated vessel were still in any kind of fight.”

From Salon

If the boat was incapacitated and the men were unable to threaten U.S. military personnel, then the survivors would have met the definition of unable to fight, legal experts say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Lights, noises, smells and crowds that others barely notice may cause incapacitating anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times

Name a power of attorney to make financial decisions should you become incapacitated, and medical power of attorney.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023