as in disability
complete or partial loss of physical function (as motion or sensation) in a part of the body
the car accident left one athlete with paralysis from the waist down
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Recent Examples of paralysis
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and even death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—
Kate Gibson, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
The toxin produced by C. botulinum bacteria can also cause a range of symptoms including muscle weakness, blurry vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty speaking, paralysis and trouble breathing, which can lead to death.
—Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
Clostridium botulinum can produce a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and can lead to botulism, an illness that causes breathing complications, muscle paralysis, and death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2025
Injury or damage to this nerve can cause pain, weakness, and muscle paralysis.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Kate Gibson, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
The toxin produced by C. botulinum bacteria can also cause a range of symptoms including muscle weakness, blurry vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty speaking, paralysis and trouble breathing, which can lead to death.
—Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
Clostridium botulinum can produce a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and can lead to botulism, an illness that causes breathing complications, muscle paralysis, and death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2025
Injury or damage to this nerve can cause pain, weakness, and muscle paralysis.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
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In 1986—seven years after Oberon’s death—the Actors’ Equity Association established the Nontraditional Casting Project, an endeavor meant to widen roles for actors of color as well as those with disabilities.—
Mayukh Sen,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2025
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The parks department said the changes, which were announced earlier this year, would open more of the park to those with disabilities and the trails would provide a way to move between the Illinois and Olive avenues’ parking lots closer to the river.—
Emma Hall,
Sacramento Bee,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Adjusted operating income, which adds back depreciation, amortization and impairment charges, was -$801,000 (Sphere) and $33.7 million (MSG Networks).—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
3 Mar. 2025
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Operating income of $3.3 million vs $3.5 million for the same period of fiscal 2023, hit by $6.4 million of noncash impairment charges.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Embiid, though, was still battling injury throughout that series, which included Bell’s palsy.—
Scott Thompson,
Fox News,
23 Oct. 2024
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No serious side effects were reported during the trial period, but once the vaccine was released, Swiss officials saw a concerning uptick in cases of Bell’s palsy, a disease that causes weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, often leading to a drooping or disfigured face.—
Stephani Sutherland,
Scientific American,
15 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barré is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves, resulting in weakness, numbness or paralysis.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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Countless emergency room visits, unexplained symptoms, body weakness, and pain became my new normal.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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