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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Recent Examples of incapacitate
Jane turned against Sinatra over a video game console, of all things, and shows up at the standoff between Sinatra and Xavier just in time to shoot Sinatra in the right spot to keep her alive but incapacitated.
—
Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
And there are no specific norms outlining what happens to the leadership of the Catholic Church if a pope becomes totally incapacitated.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Nicholson’s Sinatra, meanwhile, was left incapacitated in a hospital bed after being shot by Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom), the double agent who also murdered Billy (Jon Beavers).
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2025
Since the inauguration, Rubio, Musk and Marocco have taken dramatic steps to incapacitate USAID, the largest foreign aid donor in the world, by firing its employees and halting operations.
—Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
And there are no specific norms outlining what happens to the leadership of the Catholic Church if a pope becomes totally incapacitated.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Nicholson’s Sinatra, meanwhile, was left incapacitated in a hospital bed after being shot by Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom), the double agent who also murdered Billy (Jon Beavers).
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2025
Since the inauguration, Rubio, Musk and Marocco have taken dramatic steps to incapacitate USAID, the largest foreign aid donor in the world, by firing its employees and halting operations.
—Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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Don’t let minor risks paralyze major opportunities. 5.—
Aslak de Silva,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
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The memos, also obtained by ProPublica, estimated that up to 166,000 people would die from malaria due to the cuts, while 200,000 children would be paralyzed by polio.—
Dan Cody,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 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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Make no mistake—undermining our basic freedoms and pulling funding from schools will not address the real problem of antisemitism and will certainly not help students receive an education.—
Maggie Siddiqi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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This approach would hide the true impact on taxpayers, undermine Senate rules against increasing deficits, and further harm the U.S. fiscal position.—
Doug Criscitello,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Officials in Arkansas said Saturday morning that three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state overnight.—
Bruce Shipkowski,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
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The most high-profile attack claimed by ISIS in 2024 was the devastating assault on a Moscow shopping mall in March, which left at least 150 dead and more than 500 injured.—
Mary Kay Mallonee,
CNN,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Reportedly, between June and December 2024 alone, more than 900 cases of gross child rights violations were recorded, with 80% involving killings or maiming, primarily in Darfur, Khartoum, and Al Jazirah States.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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Though the attacks were intended to target Hezbollah terrorists, the explosions also injured, maimed and killed civilians, including at least two children.—
Caitlin McFall,
Fox News,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Syria's news agency Sana reported at least three people wounded in the attack, northwest of the capital Damascus.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
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Two people were wounded in the melee, which erupted Saturday, March 8, at a RaceTrac gas station in New Smyrna Beach, police said in a March 10 news release.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Senate Bill 1 also offers relief to those 65 years old and older and those who are disabled.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2025
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At the Smithy, an issue may occur where tutorials are repeatedly shown, disabling certain options in the menu.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Their special teams — especially the power play but also the penalty kill — are in a major funk at maybe the worst time of the season.—
Aaron Portzline,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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Then, its argument in favor of more pollution was that fuel economy standards would kill people.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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