1
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitate
These effects leave both adults and children highly vulnerable: even experienced swimmers can quickly be incapacitated.
—
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
The blackout incapacitated banks, mobile networks, and e-government services, crippling the country’s core systems.
—Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Advertisement At the end of The Old Guard 2, Discord has incapacitated Andy’s team, including Nile, bagging them and carting them away on choppers.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 2 July 2025
The new Texas law establishes a definition of consent within the Penal Code and expands protections for individuals who are incapacitated due to alcohol or other substances.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
The blackout incapacitated banks, mobile networks, and e-government services, crippling the country’s core systems.
—Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Advertisement At the end of The Old Guard 2, Discord has incapacitated Andy’s team, including Nile, bagging them and carting them away on choppers.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 2 July 2025
The new Texas law establishes a definition of consent within the Penal Code and expands protections for individuals who are incapacitated due to alcohol or other substances.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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With the House floor paralyzed, House GOP leaders announced on Tuesday that the chamber is leaving for a five-week district work period a day earlier than expected.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
22 July 2025
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House Republicans, paralyzed by internal fighting over the Jeffrey Epstein files, will embark early for a lengthy summer recess later this week after canceling votes on Thursday.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
22 July 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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Avoid Common Mistakes Despite the benefits of catch-up contributions, many individuals make avoidable errors that undermine their effectiveness.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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The firing of a career public servant, lawfully appointed by the court, is another blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn't agree with them and undermine judicial independence.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Shooting comes 3 years after another incident The July 25 shooting comes less than three years after another fatal attack at a University of New Mexico housing building left one student dead and three campus visitors injured.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
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The boyfriend and dog weren’t injured in the attack.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Harris' injury evoked memories of the 2015 Fourth of July fireworks incident that maimed New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
11 July 2025
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As they are hidden and often scattered, the mines often maim or kill civilians long after fighting has ended.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Israel launched new airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens of others.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
22 July 2025
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The attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
Verb
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In addition, turning your iPhone on and off again can disrupt the malware, temporarily disabling it.—
Kate O'Flaherty,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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When the vehicle became disabled, bystanders in the crowd dragged the driver outside the car and began to physically assault him, according to police.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
22 July 2025
Verb
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The man accused of pulling the trigger in a Christmas Day shooting that killed two Milwaukee teenagers is no longer on the run.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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The push for tools to address overdoses has taken on more urgency as deaths from synthetic opioids have skyrocketed in Texas and across the U.S. Fentanyl was identified as the likely cause of a surge of 79 overdoses in Austin last spring, which killed nine people.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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