IMMOBILIZING Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

immobilizing

verb

present participle of immobilize

as in paralyzing

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move town councils felt immobilized by the powers newly granted to the state legislation

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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.

Recent Examples of immobilizing That, combined with a nearly immobilizing back injury and a relationship turned toxic, left me feeling panicked. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026 The venom causes a drop in blood pressure in the prey as well as prolonged bleeding, immobilizing it and allowing the dragon to bring it down and kill it. — Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026 Meteorologists said the storm is the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the metropolitan Northeast, shattering accumulation records in places, immobilizing transit and even leading the United Nations to postpone a Security Council meeting. — Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026 Meteorologists said the storm is the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in parts of the metropolitan Northeast, shattering accumulation records in places, immobilizing transit and even leading the United Nations to postpone a Security Council meeting. — Anthony Izaguirre, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026 Patty Phillips was racing to evacuate from her Malibu home last January when her car got stuck on a boulder, immobilizing her as flames closed in. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026 Breakups can be agonizing, even immobilizing; sometimes, wallowing is the ideal way forward. — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025 Waste is retrieved from aging tanks, contamination plumes are treated, and the vitrification plant has begun immobilizing certain high-level radioactive wastes in glass, a milestone that reshapes the future of the site but doesn’t soften its complexity. — New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025 Metallic gels offer a potential solution by immobilizing the liquid component without sacrificing performance. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for immobilizing

Verb

The attacks and the air raid alerts that accompany them have severely disrupted life in the city, forcing millions to constantly seek shelter and paralyzing the capital’s businesses and transport networks.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
Medications used in lethal injections usually act in three steps -- first sedating the individual, then paralyzing them, before ending important bodily functions necessary for life.

— Allen Chang, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of paralyzing

Verb

The flip side is that the state suffers crippling deficits when the market tanks, as during the Global Financial Crisis.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
In the days after the ceasefire broke down, the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi shipping, and launched attacks crippling Saudi Arabia’s oil export infrastructure.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of crippling

Verb

Fragments of the powerhouse author’s path to her incapacitating accident then unfold through Lowen’s POV, starting with Verity’s steamy first encounter with Jeremy.

— Fawnia Soo Hoo, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026
Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers on board seized control of the plane.

— Michael Sinkewicz , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of incapacitating

Verb

When the user reached out to Meta, a support staff member reportedly recommended disabling several settings, including mic and camera permissions.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
The next day, Ukrainian drones hit the company's major data center in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, disabling part of the facility, Yandex said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of disabling

Browse Nearby Words

immobilizes

immobilizing

immoderacy

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“Immobilizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immobilizing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of immobilizing

verb

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