paralyze
verb (used with object)
to affect with paralysis.
were paralyzing
-
past progressiveof paralyze.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The shock and horror of the moment were paralyzing.
From Slate ● Oct. 12, 2023
There were paralyzing moments of reporting one angle for weeks, months, a year, and then all of a sudden saying, “This was all a dead end! How did I let this happen to myself?”
From New York Times ● Jul. 28, 2019
Laura felt that the pressures of her junior year were paralyzing, so she did not return for the spring semester.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 1, 2019
"It's Not The Time For It," said Saturday's banner headline in the state-owned Akhbar Elyom newspaper, urging the nation to end work stoppages which it said were paralyzing the economy and losing Egypt revenue.
From Reuters ● Feb. 20, 2011
The water glued them to my body, they were paralyzing my movements.
From Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by F. P. Walter
