PARALYZING Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

paralyzing

verb

present participle of paralyze

as in crippling

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move a blizzard paralyzed the city for two days

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in frightening

to deprive of courage or confidence the school board is paralyzed by the threat of lawsuits for just about everything

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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 paralyzing With a combined readership of 75 million at their peak, Hopper and Parsons wielded extraordinary influence — and instilled paralyzing fear. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2026 The attacks on Yandex caused unprecedented disruptions, paralyzing payments, online orders, taxi rides and access to personal data. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 The suddenness of it all was terrifying, even paralyzing, and yet, at the same time, oddly relieving. — Andrew Lipstein, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 The attacks and the air raid alerts that accompany them have severely disrupted life in the city, forcing millions to constantly seek shelter and paralyzing the capital’s businesses and transport networks. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026 Since then, the uniquely Chicago gatherings have become massive, paralyzing traffic on Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 The Duxbury mom does not dispute the killings at their home in January 2023, which preceded a paralyzing suicide attempt from a second-floor window. — Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 Responsible deployment does not require paralyzing every use case. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026 Gripped by a paralyzing fear for the fate of her future children, Naama returns to the same monument where the infidelity took place; there, her parents appear before her. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralyzing

Verb

The flip side is that the state suffers crippling deficits when the market tanks, as during the Global Financial Crisis.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
In the days after the ceasefire broke down, the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi shipping, and launched attacks crippling Saudi Arabia’s oil export infrastructure.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of crippling

Verb

For Cox and Walker, the challenge was to introduce horror-film conventions without frightening the franchise’s youngest viewers.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 June 2026

Definition of frightening

Verb

Fragments of the powerhouse author’s path to her incapacitating accident then unfold through Lowen’s POV, starting with Verity’s steamy first encounter with Jeremy.

— Fawnia Soo Hoo, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026
Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers on board seized control of the plane.

— Michael Sinkewicz , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of incapacitating

Verb

Set nearly two decades after the previous installment, Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) faces the consequences of his reign as old allies return, terrifying new threats emerge and betrayal lurks in every shadow.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Though privacy concerns around these agents’ access may be terrifying in their own right, for now the utopian vision seems to be winning.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Verb

Both fringe and mainstream conservatives have portrayed Indian Americans as stealing high-paying tech jobs from white workers and undermining American unity.

— Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026
Chapek made Iger a starring character in his own memoir, blaming him for undermining his leadership after selecting him for the top job.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermining

Verb

The North Port is a major hub for container and cruise traffic, possibly producing an intimidating environment for the shark.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
He was accused of harassing, threatening, and intimidating the women in person, through social media, and on his podcast.

— Patrick Damp, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of intimidating

Verb

The double-press-and-hold control is the only one that can’t be customized here, and it’s locked to disabling/enabling the dial itself.

— Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
The family also believes the burglars may have jammed the home's Wi-Fi signal, disabling security cameras during the break-in.

— Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of disabling

Verb

Together the duo enjoy scaring themselves into a teeth-chattering but delightful evening.

— Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026
Universal announced that Nikki, the character Navarrette plays in Obsession was going to roam all of Horror Nights, scaring people and taking photos like Art the Clown, Dracula, and the Weeknd in years past.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of scaring

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paralyzes

paralyzing

paramedic

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“Paralyzing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralyzing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of paralyzing

verb

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