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

“They don’t remember how paralyzed with fright the nation was the week after Three Mile Island. ... They don’t recall the shock of Chernobyl less than seven years later.”

From Los Angeles Times

A paralyzed Arizona man became the first human to receive the implant in January and has since moved a cursor, browsed the internet and played video games with this thoughts.

From Los Angeles Times

At the Dodger Stadium rally, Freeman once again thanked the fans for how they supported him while his three-year-old son, Max, was temporarily paralyzed with a rare neurological condition.

From Los Angeles Times

This was the same player who missed eight games in the middle of the season because his 3-year-old son, Max, was temporarily paralyzed by a neurological disorder.

From Los Angeles Times

The final phase of the two-stage rollout - prompted by Gaza’s first case of polio in 25 years, which left a baby boy paralyzed - was due to begin on Wednesday.

From BBC

Related Words

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