PARALYZES Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

paralyzes

verb

present tense third-person singular of paralyze

as in cripples

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days

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as in frightens

to deprive of courage or confidence the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything

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Example Sentences

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 paralyzes Kosowski, prosecutors theorized, killed Cozzi with succinylcholine, a fast-acting drug that paralyzes muscles, and threw his body in a Collier County dumpster during a drive to Miami. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 The wasp gets its name from its reproductive cycle, where a female paralyzes a tarantula to serve as a live host for her larva. — Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 Fear, like ignorance, shuts our eyes to and paralyzes our trust in God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and unfailing love for His children, whereas the understanding of God’s ever-present goodness removes the fear that generates suffering. — André Kisonga, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2026 These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026 In fact, too much choice often paralyzes decision-making. — David Meade, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 Once an octopus ambushes and bites its prey, the venom in its saliva paralyzes the prey, allowing the octopus to consume it. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 Monster blizzard paralyzes Northeast with extreme snow, soaring power outages. — FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026 For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzes

Verb

Federal illegality further cripples operations with banking and tax burdens.

— Peter Su, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
In the final version of the film, Furiosa captures Dementus, cripples him, brings him back to the Citadel.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026

Definition of cripples

Verb

The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Penelope, too, is asked to occupy a landscape that frightens her, not only as a neurodivergent child in a neurotypical culture, but as a child now situated in an adult world.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of frightens

Verb

Black Palace is set in 1888 London as an emerging tabloid media terrifies the public with lurid stories of infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
What terrifies you about this moment and inspires you about this moment?

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrifies

Verb

Opponents of the death penalty say Robertson’s case undermines claims that executions deter murder.

— David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
An instructor who demands agreement with a pro-Israel position undermines intellectual freedom just as surely as one who demands agreement with an anti-Israel position.

— Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermines

Verb

In the most basic sense, a film in which supernatural scares arise courtesy of negative space ought to at least have thoughtful framing, but the endless series of startles arrive with the same weight and energy as the fake outs.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Kennedy, who was an anti-vaccine activist before entering politics and has sent mixed messages to Americans about getting the measles vaccine, scares her.

— Ali Swenson, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of scares

Verb

Melanie Melanie came to this reunion prepared with both facts and a prosecutorial confrontation style that effectively intimidates all of her on-stage opponents.

— Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
In the five vignettes, James, as his character Eddie Horniman, intimidates various individuals while going through the clean-up, the sacrifice, the angle, the cut and the judgment — all steps of serving Stella Artois.

— Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of intimidates

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

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Synonyms of paralyzes

verb

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