incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 
incapacitated; incapacitating
Synonyms
Examples of incapacitate in a Sentence
The class teaches you how to incapacitate an attacker.
The stroke left her completely incapacitated.
He was incapacitated by the pain.
a computer system incapacitated by software problems
Recent Examples on the Web
The groups want to require notices to happen prior to the start of a shift, so long as the employee isn't incapacitated.
—
Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 26 Sep. 2024
Yesterday, one clip showed a device blowing up in a market, incapacitating a person and spooking passersby.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024
While Reagan was incapacitated in surgery, there was a real question of who was running the country — and who controlled the nuclear arsenal at a time when Cold War tensions were at a near all-time high, in part because Reagan had entered office taking a tougher line on Moscow.
—Nicole Narea, Vox, 14 July 2024
The source of incapacitating wedding day jitters is now a gay wedding.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate 
Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 26 Sep. 2024
Yesterday, one clip showed a device blowing up in a market, incapacitating a person and spooking passersby.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024
While Reagan was incapacitated in surgery, there was a real question of who was running the country — and who controlled the nuclear arsenal at a time when Cold War tensions were at a near all-time high, in part because Reagan had entered office taking a tougher line on Moscow.
—Nicole Narea, Vox, 14 July 2024
The source of incapacitating wedding day jitters is now a gay wedding.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incapacitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpas-ə-ˌtāt
incapacitated; incapacitating
: to make incapable : disable
Legal Definition
incapacitate
transitive verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt
incapacitated; incapacitating
1
: to make legally incapable or ineligible
mental illness alone will not incapacitate a person from making a valid contract—Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)
Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)2
: to deprive of capacity or natural power
an injury that incapacitates the employee
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