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

Example 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 And Ramsay Hunt syndrome occurs when a shingles outbreak impacts the facial nerve near one of the ears, according to the Mayo Clinic, often causing facial paralysis and hearing loss. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025 The sheer volume of information, often conflicting and overwhelming, can lead to compassion fatigue or a sense of paralysis. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 Ski With the Matterhorn As Your Backdrop Photo: Getty Images As one of the premiere ski destinations on the planet, choosing which Swiss slopes to glide down can induce a touch of decision paralysis. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 After mulling a proposal from the leaders of the men’s and women’s tennis tours to restructure the sport, the people in charge of the four Grand Slams have sent back a terse rejection that leaves the sport’s future in a state of paralysis. Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paralysis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paralysis
Noun
  • Oz now directs an agency with a $1.4 trillion budget that administers Medicare for seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors, as well as Medicaid, which serves low-income Americans.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Both cuts will affect students with disabilities, experts say.
    Kayla Jimenez, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These things will make your video content more accessible for non-native speakers and users with hearing impairments.
    Karan Sharma, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The increase in loss is attributed to impairment charges on intangible assets and changes in fair value of contingent consideration.
    Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Embiid, though, was still battling injury throughout that series, which included Bell’s palsy.
    Scott Thompson, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
  • 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
Noun
  • However, economists say trade deficits aren’t a sign of national weakness.
    Time, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The dollar strengthened after days of weakness, and oil rose back above $60, starting to climb out of a danger zone.
    Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paralysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paralysis. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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!