par·a·lyt·ic
ˌper-ə-ˈli-tik 
ˌpa-rə-
1
: affected with, characterized by, or causing paralysis
2
: of, relating to, or resembling paralysis
Synonyms
Examples of paralytic in a Sentence
Adjective
a group of paralytic drunks
at first, he would not accept that he was now paralytic and needed help
Recent Examples on the Web
Soph Warnes, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
In 2022 public health officials were unable to trace the source of infection of a man who developed paralytic polio in a highly unvaccinated community in Rockland County in New York State.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 1 Feb. 2025
There might be a pension for paralytics, and state aid for those who suffered in person or estate from tempest or wild beasts.
—Jay Feinman, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paralytic 
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Adjective
The polio vaccines prevented 29 million cases of paralytic polio between 1960 and 2021, compared with a counterfactual world with no vaccines, according to researchers’ estimates.
—Soph Warnes, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025
In 2022 public health officials were unable to trace the source of infection of a man who developed paralytic polio in a highly unvaccinated community in Rockland County in New York State.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
Noun
Harper also got stuck with a paralytic, leading her to collapse to the squalid floor, while the unseen killer scurried away.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 1 Feb. 2025
There might be a pension for paralytics, and state aid for those who suffered in person or estate from tempest or wild beasts.
—Jay Feinman, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paralytic
Dictionary Entries Near paralytic
Cite this Entry
“Paralytic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralytic. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paralytic
1 of 2 adjective
par·a·lyt·ic
ˌpar-ə-ˈlit-ik
1
: affected with, marked by, or causing paralysis
2
: of, relating to, or resembling paralysis
paralytic
2 of 2 noun
: one affected with paralysis
Medical Definition
paralytic
1 of 2 adjective
par·a·lyt·ic
ˌpar-ə-ˈlit-ik
1
: affected with or characterized by paralysis
2
: of, relating to, causing, or resembling paralysis
paralytic
2 of 2 noun
: one affected with paralysis
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