plural palsies
1
: paralysis
—used chiefly in combination
oculomotor palsy
see bell's palsy, cerebral palsy
2
: a condition that is marked by uncontrollable tremor and quivering of the body or one or more of its parts
—not used technically
… an involuntary shake that was to prove the prelude to age's palsy.—
Angus Wilson
Angus WilsonSynonyms
Examples of palsy in a Sentence
Noun
palsy can sometimes be caused by a brain injury
Adjective
the salesman changed his palsy attitude when he realized that I wasn't buying
Recent Examples on the WebFiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2024
Wexton delivered her nearly two-minute remarks using a text-to-speech application, technology she's increasingly relied on since she was diagnosed last year with a degenerative brain condition known as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 May 2024
Sarah Klein, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2017
Mira Cheng, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Much of the twins’ perspective came from their mom, who was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy and Lewy body dementia in 2018.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for palsy 
Noun
After the Sixers’ Game 3 win in Philadelphia, Embiid openly spoke about suffering from Bell’s palsy.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2024
Wexton delivered her nearly two-minute remarks using a text-to-speech application, technology she's increasingly relied on since she was diagnosed last year with a degenerative brain condition known as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 May 2024
Verb
Things Became Difficult’ A doctor can usually diagnose Bell’s palsy just by looking at a person, but may decide to do a blood test, MRI, or CT scan to rule out other causes of facial paralysis, like diabetes or tumors.
—Sarah Klein, PEOPLE.com, 26 July 2017
Adjective
The company will reduce its workforce by approximately 70% and prioritize funding its ongoing studies of an experimental drug for Wolfram syndrome and supranuclear palsy – both rare neurodegenerative disorders – and another experimental drug for ALS, according to the news release.
—Mira Cheng, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Much of the twins’ perspective came from their mom, who was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy and Lewy body dementia in 2018.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for palsy
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Dictionary Entries Near palsy
Cite this Entry
“Palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palsy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
palsy
noun
pal·sy
ˈpȯl-zē 
plural palsies
1
: paralysis
—used chiefly in combination
oculomotor palsy
see bell's palsy, cerebral palsy
2
: a condition that is characterized by uncontrollable tremor or quivering of the body or one or more of its parts
—not used technically
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