incapacitate

American  

[in-kuh-pas-i-teyt] / ˌɪn kəˈpæs ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

incapacitated, incapacitating

1. to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength; make incapable or unfit; disable.

   Synonyms:

   weaken, impair, sideline, handicap

2. Law. to deprive of the legal power to act in a specified way or ways.

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incapacitate British  

/ ˌɪnkəˈpæsɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to deprive of power, strength, or capacity; disable

2. to deprive of legal capacity or eligibility

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Other Word Forms

• incapacitation noun

Etymology

Origin of incapacitate

First recorded in 1650–60; incapacit(y) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Some prep you can do now: Appoint a durable power of attorney who will be charged with making decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to make decisions yourself.

From MarketWatch

In addition to updating a will, make sure you have a trusted person to handle your financial and medical affairs in case you become incapacitated.

From MarketWatch

First of all, they could turn the job down when it comes time to act, or they could be incapacitated themselves.

From MarketWatch

“It looks like two classically shipwrecked people,” Smith said, calling it a “highly questionable decision that these two people on that obviously incapacitated vessel were still in any kind of fight.”

From Salon

If the boat was incapacitated and the men were unable to threaten U.S. military personnel, then the survivors would have met the definition of unable to fight, legal experts say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cripple
• disable
• immobilize
• maim
• paralyze