paralyse
Britishverb
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pathol to affect with paralysis
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med to render (a part of the body) insensitive to pain, touch, etc, esp by injection of an anaesthetic
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to make immobile; transfix
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.
Obsessive, intrusive thoughts can paralyse sufferers with anxiety, fear, disgust or shame - and many will not realise the images they are experiencing in their head are due to OCD.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
"The court finds that the intention was to paralyse the assembly for a considerable period," Ji told the Seoul Central District Court.
From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026
"Permission for jamming and spoofing, permission to shoot lasers at an airport -- everything that you don't really want at airports because it would paralyse operations -- we have here," Suelberg said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025
Any disruption to this would paralyse the global supply chain.
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2024
Kym’s jellyfish-tentacle hair floated towards him, as if anxious to paralyse new prey.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
