transitive verb
also par·a·lyse ˈparəˌlīz also ˈper-
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: French paralyser, back-formation from paralysie paralysis, from Latin paralysis — more at paralysis
1. : to affect with paralysis
2. : to deprive of strength or activity : make powerless : make ineffective
a strike that paralyzes an industry
the atomic bomb … can be used to paralyze if not destroy a nation — W.O.Douglas
grand jury could paralyze government by indicting a number of important public officials for minor offenses — New York Times
a country economically bankrupt, politically paralyzed — W.D.Clark
discriminating laws paralyzed our efforts to lend a helping hand — Journal of Internat'l Affairs
3. : unnerve
the paralyzing thing is the uncertainty — Evelyn Whitehead
pressure did not paralyze the free world but, rather, forged its unity — A.E.Stevenson †1965
4. : stun , stupefy , petrify
would paralyze the empire with the news — Rudyard Kipling
5. : to bring to an end : destroy , prevent
the assertion that principles paralyze action — M.R.Cohen
deadlock paralyzed action — F.A.Ogg & Harold Zink
moral passion … has ended by paralyzing his aesthetic appreciation — Edmund Wilson
Synonyms: see daze