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
The differences between the two major models, along with other forecast guidance, equates to the difference between a paralyzing blizzard along the I-95 corridor and a largely forgettable bout of light snow.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
But, like so many domestic violence survivors, she was paralyzed with fear in the moment.
—Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Ji said declaring martial law can constitute insurrection if intended to obstruct or paralyze constitutional institutions.
—Hakyung Kate Lee, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2023, dual writers’ and actors’ strikes paralyzed the industry, held up largely by complex negotiations over the usage of artificial intelligence.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyze
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Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
But, like so many domestic violence survivors, she was paralyzed with fear in the moment.
—Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Ji said declaring martial law can constitute insurrection if intended to obstruct or paralyze constitutional institutions.
—Hakyung Kate Lee, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2023, dual writers’ and actors’ strikes paralyzed the industry, held up largely by complex negotiations over the usage of artificial intelligence.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 18 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 23 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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