as in disability
complete or partial loss of physical function (as motion or sensation) in a part of the body the car accident left one athlete with paralysis from the waist down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples 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 paralysis There are resources that are deployed at a federal level and on a more personal and community-based level that directly focus on quality of life for people impacted by paralysis. Abc News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2024 This subtle social drama, almost Antonioni-like in its depiction of emotional paralysis, explores the traumatic effects of a tragic event on the relationships and bonds of people who feel as though the ground has vanished beneath their feet. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024 The years-long paralysis around closing the dangerous facility was on full display this week as the Board of Supervisors discussed embarking on a national search for an executive director to lead a team with one objective: closing the downtown L.A. jail, where roughly 4,000 inmates are confined. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024 This malaise was likely spurred by a variety of reasons that go beyond economic headwinds to business paralysis instigated by global unrest and national uncertainty around the impending election. Billee Howard, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for paralysis 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
  • Students with disabilities should continue to be counted in that group for two years after no longer needing services, aligning with how students learning English are followed after services are no longer provided.
    Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
  • In some high-profile cases, people with disabilities have been reportedly pushed towards suicide; euthanasia has arguably been used in the place of a social safety net.
    The Week, theweek, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Aim for 7-9 hours: Anything less than 7 hours of sleep can lead to significant metabolic, cognitive, and cardiovascular impairments.
    Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
  • There was also $15.9 billion in impairment charges tied in part to accelerated depreciation for Intel 7 process node manufacturing assets and goodwill impairment in the Mobileye unit.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • No serious side effects were reported during the trial period, but once the vaccine was released, Swiss officials saw a concerning uptick in cases of Bell’s palsy, a disease that causes weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, often leading to a drooping or disfigured face.
    Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
  • Researchers at the University of Zurich estimated that the adjuvanted flu vaccine had increased the risk of contracting Bell’s palsy by about 20 times, and the vaccine was discontinued.
    Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Rethink your strengths and weaknesses and aim to enforce a healthier routine.
    Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Maybe the biggest weakness of the liberal international order is that the whole world feels the consequences of U.S. elections but has no say in them.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near paralysis

Cite this Entry

“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on paralysis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!