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 KendrickExamples of paralyzed in a Sentence
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared
Recent Examples on the Web
Carl Schulze, of Neenah, has used a wheelchair since 2007, when an accident severed his spinal cord and left him completely paralyzed.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
In June 2022, his face was left partially paralyzed following a Ramsay Hunt Syndrome diagnosis, which forced him to halt his Justice tour and then cancel it entirely.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
While competitors get paralyzed trying to resolve contradictions, anti-fragile leaders use them as navigation tools.
—Tarun Galagali, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
Flora uses a wheelchair to get around after a 2010 shooting left him paralyzed from the waist down.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
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Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
In June 2022, his face was left partially paralyzed following a Ramsay Hunt Syndrome diagnosis, which forced him to halt his Justice tour and then cancel it entirely.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2025
While competitors get paralyzed trying to resolve contradictions, anti-fragile leaders use them as navigation tools.
—Tarun Galagali, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
Flora uses a wheelchair to get around after a 2010 shooting left him paralyzed from the waist down.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyzed. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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