paralyzed
adjective
par·a·lyzed
ˈper-ə-ˌlīzd 
ˈpa-rə-
1
: affected with paralysis
If the right hemisphere of the brain is badly damaged in its sensory (parietal) areas, patients may show … an unawareness that anything is the matter, even though the left side of their body is senseless or paralyzed.—
Oliver Sacks
Oliver SacksThousands of paralyzed people worldwide are in the socially closed-off state.—Christen Brownlee
Christen Brownlee2
: rendered incapable of movement or action
I was not found by the teacher until what seemed to me hours later but was probably five minutes, paralyzed with fright.—Kay Boyle
Kay BoyleThose who uncover plagiarism become paralyzed with embarrassment, letting the culprit escape rather than confronting him.—Walter Kendrick
Walter KendrickExamples of paralyzed in a Sentence
special ramps for paralyzed people in wheelchairs
a seemingly paralyzed mayor sat by as the city's crime rate soared
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1995, Reeve suffered a spinal injury in a horse riding accident and became paralyzed from the neck down.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 11 July 2025
The Teddy Pendergrass thing [his first performance since a 1982 car crash left him paralyzed from the chest down] was overwhelming, very emotional.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 9 July 2025
This groundbreaking procedure is part of a clinical trial at the University of Miami aimed at helping paralyzed individuals control electronic devices with their minds.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 July 2025
As the man tried to flee, Adams shot him in the back, leaving him permanently paralyzed.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
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Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 11 July 2025
The Teddy Pendergrass thing [his first performance since a 1982 car crash left him paralyzed from the chest down] was overwhelming, very emotional.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 9 July 2025
This groundbreaking procedure is part of a clinical trial at the University of Miami aimed at helping paralyzed individuals control electronic devices with their minds.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 July 2025
As the man tried to flee, Adams shot him in the back, leaving him permanently paralyzed.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for paralyzed
Cite this Entry
“Paralyzed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralyzed. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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