1
as in to cripple
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days
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2
as in to intimidate
to deprive of courage or confidence
the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything
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Recent Examples of paralyze
Perfectionism can paralyze progress by making change feel overwhelming and unforgiving.
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Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Frigid temperatures and nearly 40 hours of constant snowfall — including 24 hours of blizzard conditions — paralyzed the city’s means of travel by land and by air, and caused waves from Lake Michigan to lash at the shore.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024
Botox, which paralyzes the muscles where it's injected, can also help with urinary incontinence.
—Rosanna Sutherby, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 27 Nov. 2024
That’s a huge omission because consensus decision-making has paralyzed the talks, said Erin Simon, an expert on plastics and packaging at the World Wildlife Fund.
—Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paralyze 
Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Frigid temperatures and nearly 40 hours of constant snowfall — including 24 hours of blizzard conditions — paralyzed the city’s means of travel by land and by air, and caused waves from Lake Michigan to lash at the shore.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024
Botox, which paralyzes the muscles where it's injected, can also help with urinary incontinence.
—Rosanna Sutherby, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 27 Nov. 2024
That’s a huge omission because consensus decision-making has paralyzed the talks, said Erin Simon, an expert on plastics and packaging at the World Wildlife Fund.
—Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paralyze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyze
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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Take risks and try new things, even if the risks are intimidating.Brian Slipka, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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No standard-issue heartthrob, Law began his career as a veritable emblem of intimidating, unattainable, sometimes self-sabotaging male beauty.Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There are exceptions — generally speaking, those who are mentally incapacitated may be able to travel with an escort.Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024
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On this day in 1919: President Woodrow Wilson suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him incapacitated until the end of his presidency in 1921.Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Some sea creatures manifest that may frighten the littles.Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 26 Nov. 2024
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Carmen walks away, frightened, but Lenù gets even closer to the scene of the crime, asking witnesses what happened.Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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At the time, law enforcement officials emphasized that North Korea's hacking operations were primarily profit-driven—a stark contrast to nations like Russia, China and Iran, which typically focus on espionage, intellectual property theft or undermining democratic systems.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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Drake then accused Doughty of treason and undermining his command.Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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All at once, Eggers pays homage to Schreck’s beast and contorts him entirely; honoring the folklore written by and about the people who truly believed these creatures existed and were terrified of them.Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Dec. 2024
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As the fighting ramped up in September, with daily missile barrages on the entire north, people were terrified of driving, fearing they’d be caught on the roads without shelter.Dina Kraft, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In addition, hiring has slowed a bit in recent months, raising the risk that the economy could weaken in the coming months.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Too much water can cause the fibers to weaken, become brittle, and break.Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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After moving to New York City in her mid-20s, Gloria Steinem made a list of the things about it that scared her.Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
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Still, the issue was not enough to scare off the NFL or the National Basketball Association, which renewed its contract with Nike in October.Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near paralyze
Cite this Entry
“Paralyze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyze. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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