paralyze

[ par-uh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, par·a·lyzed, par·a·lyz·ing.

1. to affect with paralysis.
2. to bring to a condition of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act:

   The strike paralyzed communications.

Other Words From

• para·lyzant adjective noun
• para·ly·zation noun
• para·lyzer noun
• para·lyzing·ly adverb
• semi·para·lyzed adjective
• un·para·lyzed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paralyze¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; back formation from paralysis, modeled on analyze

Synonym Study

See shock ¹.

Example Sentences

The treatment uses a combination of suction and heat to destroy the sweat glands, rather than just paralyze them.

From Slate

Most consequentially, Hitler used his relative majority in the Reichstag to gridlock and paralyze the legislative processes, forcing Hindenburg to rule the country by emergency decrees, essentially transforming the Weimar Republic into a constitutional dictatorship.

From Salon

They were among 47 activists who were accused of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets.

From Seattle Times

"That was understandable when we looked at how these phosphoevents distorted the G protein structure. Growth factors effectively 'steal' G proteins from GPCRs and in this way paralyze their signaling."

From Science Daily

Prosecutors had accused them of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• demolish
• destroy
• disable
• freeze
• halt
• incapacitate
• knock out
• stun
• weaken