1
as in disabled
affected with paralysis
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in crippled
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frightened
to deprive of courage or confidence
the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paralyzed
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Each cell is stocked with paralyzed tree crickets, katydids and other orthoptera insects.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Long periods of depression paralyzed me with grief.
—Jane Park, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Adjective
Her mother-in-law stopped eating and later became paralyzed.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Each cell is stocked with paralyzed tree crickets, katydids and other orthoptera insects.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Verb
April 21, 1976, when Porter was paralyzed after fracturing his neck in a collision during spring practice.
—Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Long periods of depression paralyzed me with grief.
—Jane Park, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzed
Adjective
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Both are now used by millions of people who don’t identify as disabled.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
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The dog’s owner, Tom, described himself as a 65-year-old disabled veteran.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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By contrast, the publication of his translation of Kafka in Italian in the spring of 1983 left him feeling empty, helpless, defenseless.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
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All the sweeping expansiveness snaps shut with a sudden health crisis for Kristen, its onset signaled with masterful concision in a middle-of-the-night calamity that leaves her helpless.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
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But his personal and party polls are dismal, crippled by what critics and analysts say has been a series of unforced errors.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
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That has crippled Iran’s two biggest non-oil exports, and higher prices have affected everything from plastics to pipes, to fabrics and packaging for groceries like milk, butter and cheese.—
Amir-Hussein Radjy,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Lord in your convent frightened me, Jesus with his bloody palms and gaping mouth, eyes rolled back in terror.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
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Lee Cronin was both flattered and frightened when Jason Blum suggested titling his The Mummy reimagining as Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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He was injected with the three-drug mix of an anesthetic, a paralytic and potassium acetate, which stops the heart.—
Robert McGreevy,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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Health officials identified a paralytic polio case in 2022 in an unvaccinated adult in New York.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Free agency is weak, so the best bet will be the trade market.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The original vision of the Accords – of a rapidly expanding regional bloc openly aligned with Israel and integrated economically across the Middle East – has become a significantly weaker prospect.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Norman Hunter, 48, of Dolton, also was struck by a car while incapacitated, the medical examiner’s office said.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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The film, starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson and slated to hit theaters October 2, follows Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a struggling writer who is hired to complete a successful book series after its author, Verity Crawford (Hathaway), is incapacitated.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Vilnius resident Maryia Malevich said she was terrified when the alert sounded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
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Vilnius residents sought shelter Vilnius resident Maryia Malevich said she was terrified when the alert sounded.—
Liudas Dapkus,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzed. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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