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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
the stroke left her completely incapacitated
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incapacitate
No matter your age or physical ability, these techniques are simple to learn, easy to remember, yet effective enough to incapacitate an attacker.
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Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
It has been updated to say that both pilots were not incapacitated but decided to keep the Autoland system engaged.
—Sam Sweeney, ABC News, 23 Dec. 2025
According to prosecutors, Parker police found multiple prescription drugs used to incapacitate women in Kats' home.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Sinatra is alive, but incapacitated.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incapacitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incapacitate
Verb
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Cuban officials acknowledged at the end of last year the country’s economy is yet again paralyzed due to fuel shortages and power stations constantly breaking down.—
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This week's protests are the biggest in three years, since nationwide demonstrations triggered by the death of a young woman in custody in late 2022 paralyzed Iran for weeks, with rights groups reporting hundreds killed.—
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Both have endured crippling US sanctions that have precipitated economic collapses.—
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In November 2021, while massing troops along its border with Ukraine, Russia threatened to cripple GPS if NATO got in the way.—
Verb
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The video evidence also appears to undermine elements of the government’s narrative of what happened.—
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Environmental and labor leaders say the pause is costing thousands of jobs and undermining energy independence.—
Verb
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When Dobbins was first injured, a source close to him said the best-case scenario for his return was if the Broncos made the Super Bowl.—
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Dellandrea was injured in the Sharks’ game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as his right leg struck the post after he was inadvertently tripped while driving to the net.—
Verb
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Philadelphia police are warning dog owners in Center City after a pit bull believed to belong to a homeless man was linked to multiple attacks on pets over the past week, leaving two dogs seriously injured and another permanently maimed.—
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For decades, law enforcement officials have issued public pleas to revelers not to fire guns into the air on Independence Day and New Year’s Eve, an annual phenomenon in some neighborhoods that has occasionally led to people being maimed or killed.—
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Ukrainian officials said four people were killed and at least 22 wounded in the capital overnight.—
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Federal agents wounded two people in a shooting in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday.—
Verb
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Some Georgia districts are already using locking pouches, but schools could also just tell students to leave their phone in their locker, to turn them in to a teacher, or disable them using an online application.—
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Open your settings and disable all but the critical ones, such as when a family member is trying to reach you.—
Verb
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
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Four people were killed over a four-day period in crashes on Arkansas highways, according to preliminary Arkansas State Police reports.—
Cite this Entry
“Incapacitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incapacitate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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