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.

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

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

He described them as a "highly intelligent" and "active predator" equipped with "specialised glands that produce venom to incapacitate its prey".

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Department officials have said repeatedly that, despite increased crisis intervention training and new “less-lethal” weapons designed to incapacitate rather than kill, officers are not always equipped to handle most mental health calls.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2024

The second study found racial disparities in injuries that occurred when Tasers and similar weapons were used by police to incapacitate people.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 5, 2024

I commanded the voice before terror could incapacitate me.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

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