INCAPACITATE Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

incapacitate

verb

ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt

Definition of incapacitate

as in to paralyze

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cripple

to cause severe or permanent injury to the stroke left her completely incapacitated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 incapacitate For example, if mom's alive but incapacitated, the heir legally owns nothing and has zero rights to manage the house. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 June 2026 The Martian tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney, who becomes stranded on Mars after a dust storm incapacitates him. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 28 May 2026 When the woman arrived, Aranda allegedly used a Taser to incapacitate her and physically attacked her, authorities said. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026 As the most unlikely scenario becomes a reality, the Walloon minister-president is incapacitated, and his daughter must sign documents in his name. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for incapacitate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate

Verb

Once injected with venom, the prey is paralyzed and drained of bodily fluids.

— Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
The storm paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine and even some parts of Canada from March 12 to March 14.

— Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026

Definition of paralyze

Verb

Data loss via staff cuts Widespread staff cuts starting in early 2025 across the Department of Health and Human Services, which houses the CDC, crippled much of the agency’s data collection and dissemination.

— John Kubale, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Florida didn’t have the cap space to work out the shorter term deal without crippling its ability to make other moves this offseason to enhance the roster.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of cripple

Verb

The Administration has already undermined the agreement in many ways, experts tell TIME, citing the discord in February, when the bloc had to freeze the implementation of the agreement after Trump made additional tariff threats.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 9 July 2026
Immigration enforcement practices that result in family separation, detention, workplace raids, and widespread fear undermine human dignity and weaken the social fabric of our communities.

— Killingly-Brooklyn Interfaith Council, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

On Sunday, Russia bombarded Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv with dozens of missiles and hundreds of strike drones, killing at least 11 and injuring scores more, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and media reports.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 July 2026
The shootings, which also injured four people, occurred at two Fourth of July block parties about two miles apart, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of injure

Verb

The attack only maims Aegon, who is left bedridden and unable to walk on his own.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Towards the end of the season, Chris relapses and starts using again, leading to a car crash that leaves him maimed, giving Tony no other option but to whack his underling.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

Definition of maim

Verb

The enormous kinetic energy generated by the impact is sufficient to destroy or disable the target without carrying a large explosive payload.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Bright Angel was the first site SHERLOC examined after a dust-cover anomaly disabled its focusing mechanism, forcing the team to adopt a new operating mode.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026

Definition of disable

Verb

Massive explosions lit up the night sky as ballistic missiles and drones hammered parts of the city, killing at least 14 people in the city and three others in the surrounding region, with dozens more wounded, city officials said.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Alicent and Helaena will be held prisoner until Aemond is found and killed.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026

Definition of kill

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incapably

incapacitate

incapacitated

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“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of incapacitate

verb

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