Showing results for "incapacitated"

• past participle of incapacitate.
• past tense form of incapacitate.

incapacitated

American  

[in-kuh-pas-i-tay-tid] / ˌɪn kəˈpæs ɪˌteɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. deprived of strength or ability; made incapable or nonfunctional.

   She’ll be incapacitated for several weeks after the surgery.

   Those stealing fuel from incapacitated tanker trucks risk being killed by explosions.

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Etymology

Origin of incapacitated

First recorded in 1795–1805; incapacitate + -ed ²

Explanation

If you’ve been sick with the flu for a week, barely able to get out of bed, then you’ve got an idea of what it’s like to be incapacitated. Incapacitated means "empty of strength," "helpless," or "powerless." Incapacitated is an adjective that describes a state where you don’t have the capacity, or ability, to accomplish something. When someone becomes incapacitated, illness or injury is usually to blame. Incapacitated can also mean "ineligible." For instance, if you are too old to join the army, then your age makes you incapacitated from serving in the army.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

incapacitated

In “Verity,” she plays the titular character, Verity Crawford, the author of a string of hit thriller novels who’s been mysteriously incapacitated after a car accident and can’t finish her final three books.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

At least 19 states, including New York, have a higher bar for the level of intoxication required to deem someone incapacitated and unable to consent.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

For months, rumors circulated that he had actually died, was on life support or was otherwise incapacitated.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2026

Who will manage your affairs if you become incapacitated?

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

Perhaps she knew the gods were too incapacitated to pay attention to Ogygia, and so the island’s magic was broken.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan