incapacitated

[in-kuh-pas-i-tey-tid]

See more synonyms for incapacitated on Thesaurus.com

adjective

unable to act, respond, or the like (often used euphemistically when one is busy or otherwise occupied): He can't come to the phone now—he's incapacitated.

Origin of incapacitated

First recorded in 1795–1805; incapacitate + -ed²

incapacitate

[in-kuh-pas-i-teyt]

verb (used with object), in·ca·pac·i·tat·ed, in·ca·pac·i·tat·ing.

to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength; make incapable or unfit; disable.
Law. to deprive of the legal power to act in a specified way or ways.

Origin of incapacitate

First recorded in 1650–60; incapacit(y) + -ate¹

Related formsin·ca·pac·i·ta·tion, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for incapacitate on Thesaurus.com

1. cripple, handicap, sideline.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for incapacitated

Contemporary Examples

But when the event approached, her blood pressure had plummeted, leaving her incapacitated.
Hell Hath No Fury Like Valerie Trierweiler, the French President’s Ex
Lizzie Crocker
November 28, 2014
She notes that in some 70 percent of assaults categorized in the poll, alcohol was involved, and the woman was incapacitated.
Is the Campus Rape Crisis Overblown?
Eleanor Clift
July 10, 2014
Australian investigators say they believe the doomed Boeing 777 flew on autopilot and that the crew was incapacitated.
The Flight 370 Zombie Theory Rises From the Dead
Clive Irving
June 26, 2014
There can be no debate about the meaning of “passed out”; even “incapacitated” is fairly straightforward.
Sex, Booze, and Feminism
Cathy Young
February 22, 2014
Actually, university policy states that a person cannot consent when “incapacitated.”
Sex, Booze, and Feminism
Cathy Young
February 22, 2014

Historical Examples

Bell took his place; he too was suffering, but not so much as to be incapacitated.
The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras
Jules Verne
On the incapacitated German soldier every possible care is bestowed.
England and Germany
Emile Joseph Dillon
The toil and hardship of the journey had incapacitated the others.
South American Fights and Fighters
Cyrus Townsend Brady
The fall fractured his ankle and incapacitated him from service.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 2 of 8
Various
When I first saw him, he had been incapacitated from work for about a year.
The Electric Bath
George M. Schweig

British Dictionary definitions for incapacitated

incapacitate

verb (tr)

to deprive of power, strength, or capacity; disable
to deprive of legal capacity or eligibility

Derived Formsincapacitation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for incapacitated

incapacitate

v.

1650s, from incapacity + -ate. Related: Incapacitated; incapacitating.

incapacitated

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}incapacitated

incapacitate

Origin of incapacitate

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for incapacitated

Contemporary Examples

But when the event approached, her blood pressure had plummeted, leaving her incapacitated.

She notes that in some 70 percent of assaults categorized in the poll, alcohol was involved, and the woman was incapacitated.

Australian investigators say they believe the doomed Boeing 777 flew on autopilot and that the crew was incapacitated.

There can be no debate about the meaning of “passed out”; even “incapacitated” is fairly straightforward.

Actually, university policy states that a person cannot consent when “incapacitated.”

Historical Examples

Bell took his place; he too was suffering, but not so much as to be incapacitated.

On the incapacitated German soldier every possible care is bestowed.

The toil and hardship of the journey had incapacitated the others.

The fall fractured his ankle and incapacitated him from service.

When I first saw him, he had been incapacitated from work for about a year.

incapacitate

Word Origin and History for incapacitated

incapacitate

v.

Origin of incapacitated