paralyze
verb
par·a·lyze
ˈper-ə-ˌlīz 
ˈpa-rə-
paralyzed; paralyzing
1
: to affect with paralysis
The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.
2
: to make powerless or ineffective
A strike would paralyze the industry.
3
: unnerve
The paralyzing thing is the uncertainty …—
Evelyn Whitehead
Evelyn WhiteheadExamples of paralyze in a Sentence
The snake's venom paralyzed the mouse.
The air strikes have paralyzed the city's transportation system.
The company was paralyzed by debt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Because of the paralyzing fear caused by their operation, small businesses whose customer bases and workforces include immigrant community members temporarily closed due to the sharp drop in customers and fear that their businesses would be subject to CBP raids.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
McDonald was only 20 months on the job when a 15-year-old suspect, Shavod Jones, opened fire on him in Central Park on July 12, 1986, striking McDonald in the face, neck and wrist, and paralyzing him instantly.
—Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Many of the last 50 years in state government were most notable for the paralyzing search to find the money to fund the budget.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
At times paralyzed by self-doubt and criticism, Donatella believed in the life-changing magic of a great cocktail dress (or a good hair day) to elevate or protect yourself.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
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Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
McDonald was only 20 months on the job when a 15-year-old suspect, Shavod Jones, opened fire on him in Central Park on July 12, 1986, striking McDonald in the face, neck and wrist, and paralyzing him instantly.
—Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Many of the last 50 years in state government were most notable for the paralyzing search to find the money to fund the budget.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
At times paralyzed by self-doubt and criticism, Donatella believed in the life-changing magic of a great cocktail dress (or a good hair day) to elevate or protect yourself.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyze. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paralyze
verb
par·a·lyze
ˈpar-ə-ˌlīz
paralyzed; paralyzing
1
: to affect with paralysis
2
: to make powerless or unable to act, function, or move
Medical Definition
paralyze
transitive verb
par·a·lyze
variants
or British paralyse
paralyzed or British paralysed; paralyzing or British paralysing
: to affect with paralysis
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