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
With Smith incapacitated, Affrunti says Reeves hid in the living room.
—
Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
In 1980, most voters cast ballots in person with six exceptions for people who were incapacitated or absent on Election Day.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 31 July 2024
The police define an incapacitating injury as when someone must be carried or helped from the scene of a crash.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024
After Woodrow Wilson suffered an incapacitating stroke, his wife, Edith, shielded him from scrutiny and assumed many of his daily responsibilities.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
In 1980, most voters cast ballots in person with six exceptions for people who were incapacitated or absent on Election Day.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 31 July 2024
The police define an incapacitating injury as when someone must be carried or helped from the scene of a crash.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024
After Woodrow Wilson suffered an incapacitating stroke, his wife, Edith, shielded him from scrutiny and assumed many of his daily responsibilities.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate
Dictionary Entries Near incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 21 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share