1
as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the malfunctioning of a single component can incapacitate the engine
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2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitate
The police define an incapacitating injury as when someone must be carried or helped from the scene of a crash.
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David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024
After Woodrow Wilson suffered an incapacitating stroke, his wife, Edith, shielded him from scrutiny and assumed many of his daily responsibilities.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 18 July 2024
These often-invisible afflictions can effectively incapacitate you or, at least, impede your ability to enjoy all kinds of things other people take for granted.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2024
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, armed with a ballistics shield, was struck with multiple high-caliber rounds through a wall, incapacitating him, according to Grinnell.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate 
David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2024
After Woodrow Wilson suffered an incapacitating stroke, his wife, Edith, shielded him from scrutiny and assumed many of his daily responsibilities.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 18 July 2024
These often-invisible afflictions can effectively incapacitate you or, at least, impede your ability to enjoy all kinds of things other people take for granted.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2024
Deputy First Class Stefano Gargano, armed with a ballistics shield, was struck with multiple high-caliber rounds through a wall, incapacitating him, according to Grinnell.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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Fear Of Failure: High-stakes environments can paralyze even the most capable leaders.Jackie Simon, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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The undiluted isolationism of his campaign messaging could prove to be a straitjacket that paralyzes the Trump administration’s foreign policy at a critical time.Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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This is all designed to undermine future competitions.Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2024
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In recent months, U.S., British, German and other European officials have accused Russia of organizing an increasingly aggressive sabotage campaign aimed at undermining and disrupting Western assistance to Ukraine.Tom Costello, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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There were no fatalities but two people were seriously injured with severe burns from a powerful explosion Tuesday night that destroyed several condominiums and heavily damaged others in Orion Township, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
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The fish, which can grow to 30 feet in length and feed on krill, have typically washed up on beaches when injured or disoriented, according to scientists.James Doubek, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Instead of Black life maimed, denuded of dignity, and degraded, each portrait that makes up I, Narcissus is a study of delicious glamour.Essence, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
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Her character came across as nothing but a crazed mother willing to murder and maim in order to reunite with her children, a somewhat sexist trope that failed to capture the emotional nuance of the character that had been built on TV.Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Hamas had agreed to the truce in May 2021 after an 11-day Israeli air campaign in Gaza that followed Hamas’s firing of 150 rockets into Israel, an opening barrage that killed two Israeli civilians and wounded dozens more.John Spencer, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
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During the traffic stop, Robert LaVoy Finicum, an old friend of the Bundy’s who was driving Ryan’s car, was shot dead by a State Trooper, while Ryan got wounded in the shoulder.Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Admins can disable this hurdle if desired or remove people from calls and block them to deny re-entry.Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
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Ben Kilner Given the fact that the spinning wheels splash a lot in the water, Ben often just pulled the chain off the wheel-drive part of the system in order to temporarily disable it.Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Finally, as is obvious to most observers, Israel cannot kill its way out of the threat posed by Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions.John Spencer, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
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At least 100 people were killed, and about 20 more were still missing as of mid-October.Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near incapacitate
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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