incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 
incapacitated; incapacitating
Examples of incapacitate in a Sentence
The class teaches you how to incapacitate an attacker.
The stroke left her completely incapacitated.
He was incapacitated by the pain.
a computer system incapacitated by software problems
Recent Examples on the Web
These effects leave both adults and children highly vulnerable: even experienced swimmers can quickly be incapacitated.
—
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
The blackout incapacitated banks, mobile networks, and e-government services, crippling the country’s core systems.
—Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Advertisement At the end of The Old Guard 2, Discord has incapacitated Andy’s team, including Nile, bagging them and carting them away on choppers.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 2 July 2025
The new Texas law establishes a definition of consent within the Penal Code and expands protections for individuals who are incapacitated due to alcohol or other substances.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
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Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
The blackout incapacitated banks, mobile networks, and e-government services, crippling the country’s core systems.
—Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Advertisement At the end of The Old Guard 2, Discord has incapacitated Andy’s team, including Nile, bagging them and carting them away on choppers.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 2 July 2025
The new Texas law establishes a definition of consent within the Penal Code and expands protections for individuals who are incapacitated due to alcohol or other substances.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incapacitate. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incapacitate
verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpas-ə-ˌtāt
incapacitated; incapacitating
: to make incapable : disable
Legal Definition
incapacitate
transitive verb
in·ca·pac·i·tate
ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt
incapacitated; incapacitating
1
: to make legally incapable or ineligible
mental illness alone will not incapacitate a person from making a valid contract—Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)
Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)2
: to deprive of capacity or natural power
an injury that incapacitates the employee
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