paralyzed
adjective
par·a·lyzed
ˈper-ə-ˌlīzd 
ˈpa-rə-
1
: affected with paralysis
If the right hemisphere of the brain is badly damaged in its sensory (parietal) areas, patients may show … an unawareness that anything is the matter, even though the left side of their body is senseless or paralyzed.—
Oliver Sacks
Oliver SacksThousands of paralyzed people worldwide are in the socially closed-off state.—Christen Brownlee
Christen Brownlee2
: rendered incapable of movement or action
I was not found by the teacher until what seemed to me hours later but was probably five minutes, paralyzed with fright.—Kay Boyle
Kay BoyleThose who uncover plagiarism become paralyzed with embarrassment, letting the culprit escape rather than confronting him.—Walter Kendrick
Walter Kendrick
Examples of paralyzed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An animal may also drool more, have trouble moving, look paralyzed or bite at the air, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 10 Apr. 2024
Isaias Cervantes was left permanently paralyzed as a result of the March 2021 shooting, which took place a few feet away from his mother, sister, therapist and twin brother, who has cerebral palsy.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Then a devastating accident leaves Jan almost totally paralyzed and Bess plagued with guilt.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 3 Apr. 2024
The device, known as a brain-computer interface, records and transmits brain activity with the goal of enabling paralyzed people to control a computer.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Wallace survived the attack, which left him paralyzed in both legs.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Halfway through Jude’s movie, his hero meets the now-elderly character from that older work, and Angela 2.0 ends up bringing Angela 1.0’s paralyzed son in for the PSA.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2024
Beyond helping paralyzed patients regain some mobility and communicate without typing, Neuralink's longer-term goals include helping restore full mobility and sight.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Yet the testimony repeatedly returned to cybersecurity as senators like New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan described paralyzed rural hospitals unable to receive 98% of recent payments.
—Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 14 Mar. 2024
Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 10 Apr. 2024
Isaias Cervantes was left permanently paralyzed as a result of the March 2021 shooting, which took place a few feet away from his mother, sister, therapist and twin brother, who has cerebral palsy.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Then a devastating accident leaves Jan almost totally paralyzed and Bess plagued with guilt.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 3 Apr. 2024
The device, known as a brain-computer interface, records and transmits brain activity with the goal of enabling paralyzed people to control a computer.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
Wallace survived the attack, which left him paralyzed in both legs.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Halfway through Jude’s movie, his hero meets the now-elderly character from that older work, and Angela 2.0 ends up bringing Angela 1.0’s paralyzed son in for the PSA.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2024
Beyond helping paralyzed patients regain some mobility and communicate without typing, Neuralink's longer-term goals include helping restore full mobility and sight.
—Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Yet the testimony repeatedly returned to cybersecurity as senators like New Hampshire Democrat Maggie Hassan described paralyzed rural hospitals unable to receive 98% of recent payments.
—Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paralyzed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near paralyzed
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyzed. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on paralyzed
Nglish: Translation of paralyzed for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of paralyzed for Arabic Speakers
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