1
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine
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2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitate
In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.
—
Kristina Goetz, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Hours before that performance, as Ivy has a diva moment and Karen is incapacitated in a reformatting of the series’ poisoning plot line, Bombshell’s assistant director, Chloe (Bella Coppola), suddenly has to step up to play Marilyn, winning the love of the internet.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
When players’ health dips to zero, they’re incapacitated and must wait for teammates to revive them.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Friday’s earthquake has incapacitated the nation’s essential services and made critical stretches of its roads impassable.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Kristina Goetz, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Hours before that performance, as Ivy has a diva moment and Karen is incapacitated in a reformatting of the series’ poisoning plot line, Bombshell’s assistant director, Chloe (Bella Coppola), suddenly has to step up to play Marilyn, winning the love of the internet.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
When players’ health dips to zero, they’re incapacitated and must wait for teammates to revive them.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Friday’s earthquake has incapacitated the nation’s essential services and made critical stretches of its roads impassable.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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Singer Jeff Becerra was paralyzed in a separate shooting in 1989.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
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And even in organizations offering robust benefits, many employees don’t access them—paralyzed by fear of stigma, career repercussions, or overwhelm.—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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This kind of long-term vision is undermined by drastic and unpredictable trade policies.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
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Miranda Jeyaretnam and Chad de Guzman reported on April 30, 2025, for the 50th anniversary of the war’s end, on how President Donald Trump is undermining U.S.-Vietnam reconciliation.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After years of lawsuits and courtroom drama, director Joel Souza (who was also injured in the incident) finished the movie (now in theaters and on demand).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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The children who were injured in the attack are in the hospital in a stable condition, according to the police report.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Verb
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However, Reiner thought Sheldon should be merely badly injured, not permanently maimed.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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The gorilla could easily maim several men before being exhausted.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Miller was even more seriously wounded, along with another SEAL (Joseph Quinn), when an IED exploded outside the building as they were being evacuated.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
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His men wounded a young mother named Yellow Woman and used her infant for target practice.—
Smithsonian Magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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One night, the cemetery is plundered; graves are tipped over, their wi-fi connections disabled.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
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It is currently disabled, but was accepting donations before Camarion also passed away.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Gangs in Haiti killed at least 5,600 people last year, according to a new United Nations report.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Outdoors Summer Camp in Chatham Two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old and an 18-year-old died in the crash, the Sangamon County Coroner's Office said The four victims killed after a vehicle crashed into their after-school camp in Illinois have been identified by authorities.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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