Paralyze

/ˈpær.ə.laɪz/

Meaning & Definition

verb

To cause (a person or animal) to lose the ability to move or feel.

The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.

To render (a system, process, or situation) ineffective or incapacitated.

The strike paralyzed public transportation in the city.

To shock or astonish someone so that they are unable to react.

The news of the sudden storm paralyzed the entire community with fear.

Derived from the Greek 'paralysia', meaning 'disability', from 'para-' meaning 'beside' and 'lusis' meaning 'loosing'.

paralyze with fear

To be so frightened that one cannot move or act.

paralyze traffic

To cause a halt or severe disruption in traffic flow.

paralyzed by choice

Unable to make a decision due to overwhelming options.

paralysis

A state of being paralyzed; loss of ability to move.

paralytic

Related to or suffering from paralysis.

paralyzer

An agent that causes paralysis.

To be rendered completely immobilized by fear or anxiety.

I was so nervous before the presentation that I just felt paralyzed.

To be overwhelmed or stunned into inaction.

When I saw my exam scores, I was paralyzed.