paralyse

British

/ ˈpærəˌlaɪz /

verb

pathol to affect with paralysis
med to render (a part of the body) insensitive to pain, touch, etc, esp by injection of an anaesthetic
to make immobile; transfix

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of paralyse

C19: from French paralyser, from paralysie _paralysis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

paralyse

"The enemy is trying to paralyse economic activity in the capital and major cities," Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi said on Facebook on Saturday.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

However, the US could target tunnel entrances, communications systems, access roads, and other supporting infrastructure, Mahmoudian adds, which "could paralyse the facility's operations even if some of its deepest underground sections survived".

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

When touched, these cells fire toxic harpoon-like tubes designed to paralyse prey, such as plankton and small fish.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found Yoon guilty of leading an insurrection in December 2024 designed to "paralyse" the National Assembly.

From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026

Yes, I was moved—I, Van Helsing, with all my purpose and with my motive for hate—I was moved to a yearning for delay which seemed to paralyse my faculties and to clog my very soul.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023