paralysis
noun
pa·ral·y·sis
pə-ˈra-lə-səs 
plural paralyses
pə-ˈra-lə-ˌsēz
1
: complete or partial loss of function especially when involving the motion or sensation in a part of the body
2
: loss of the ability to move
3
: a state of powerlessness or incapacity to act
Examples of paralysis in a Sentence
The disease causes a paralysis of the legs.
The whole country is in a state of paralysis.
They are trying to end the political paralysis that has been gripping the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Whatever the club’s reasoning, there was something familiar and troubling about this disappointing deadline paralysis.
—
Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Mixing traditional doc methods with recreations and creepy genre-movie inflections, that film provided an unsettling exploration of sleep paralysis, a condition in which the mind is wide awake, but the body is frozen.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
In times of uncertainty, strategic use of superstitions can counteract confusion and paralysis.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
No one can say exactly where Trump is taking the country, but those who worry about the breakdown of essential public services, the spilling of national-security secrets, and national paralysis in the face of natural disasters are empirically grounded in their concerns.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
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Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Mixing traditional doc methods with recreations and creepy genre-movie inflections, that film provided an unsettling exploration of sleep paralysis, a condition in which the mind is wide awake, but the body is frozen.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025
In times of uncertainty, strategic use of superstitions can counteract confusion and paralysis.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
No one can say exactly where Trump is taking the country, but those who worry about the breakdown of essential public services, the spilling of national-security secrets, and national paralysis in the face of natural disasters are empirically grounded in their concerns.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Cite this Entry
“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralysis. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paralysis
noun
pa·ral·y·sis
pə-ˈral-ə-səs
plural paralyses
-ə-ˌsēz
: complete or partial loss of function especially when involving motion or sensation in a part of the body
Medical Definition
paralysis
noun
pa·ral·y·sis
pə-ˈral-ə-səs
plural paralyses
-ˌsēz
: complete or partial loss of function especially when involving the power of motion or of sensation in any part of the body see hemiplegia, paraplegia, paresis sense 1
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