incapacitate

American  

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

verb (used with object)

incapacitated, incapacitating

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

   Synonyms:

   weaken, impair, sideline, handicap

2. Law. to deprive of the legal power to act in a specified way or ways.

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incapacitate British  

/ ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to deprive of power, strength, or capacity; disable

2. to deprive of legal capacity or eligibility

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Other Word Forms

• incapacitation noun

Etymology

Origin of incapacitate

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

Example Sentences

Electroshock weapons are designed to temporarily incapacitate suspects with a shock before police detain them.

From Barron's

Kennedy said currently about 2,000 Scottish police officers are trained in the use of Tasers but there are too few of the devices, which can incapacitate a suspect, to be issued routinely.

From BBC

Is there anyone besides distant relatives that I can name as an executor and durable power of attorney in the event I become incapacitated?

From MarketWatch

You start planning the rest of your life: telling your spouse you may eventually become incapacitated; looking into long-term memory care; checking off as many bucket list items as you can.

From The Wall Street Journal

The statute of limitations may be tolled if your father was mentally incapacitated and/or if the fiduciary concealed material facts from a co-trustee or executor and made false representations when settling the estate.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• cripple
• disable
• immobilize
• maim
• paralyze