adjective
-
of, relating to, or of the nature of paralysis
-
afflicted with or subject to paralysis
-
informal very drunk
noun
Other Word Forms
- nonparalytic adjective
- paralytically adverb
- postparalytic adjective
- semiparalytic noun
- subparalytic adjective
Etymology
Origin of paralytic
1300–50; Middle English paralitik < Latin paralyticus < Greek paralytikós, equivalent to paraly- ( paralysis ) + -tikos -tic
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.
During this six-month period, mussels may have naturally occurring toxins that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning and domoic acid biotoxins, also known as amnesic shellfish poisoning.
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025
No associated paralytic cases have been recorded so far.
From BBC • Jul. 23, 2024
"We find paralytic shellfish toxins in our shellfish pretty much year-round at this point."
From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2024
There’s all sorts of interpretations about what actually happens after the paralytic.
From Slate • Feb. 1, 2024
Lanning clicked on communications with an almost paralytic spasm.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
