paralyzes
Renders completely motionless
Paralyzes means to cause paralysis—loss of the ability to move.
A spinal injury may paralyze someone from the waist down.
The word extends to any kind of immobilization: Fear paralyzed him.
A government can be paralyzed by gridlock, an economy by uncertainty.
The news paralyzed her; she couldn't speak.
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
phobia · petrify · fright · alarm · trauma · trepidation · apprehension · unease
Complete mutual obstruction
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- logjamObstruction halting flow
halt · standstill · impasse · stall · shutdown · freeze · cripple · hamstring
Daze by force
- stupefactionMental numbness from shock
- dumbfoundShock into silence
- flabbergastShock into speechlessness
- startleFrighten suddenly
thunderstruck · aghast · stupefy · daze · jolt · disbelief · astonishment · bewilderment
Unable to act independently
- incapacitateDeprive of strength or ability
- crippleSeverely impair function
- disableRemove functional capacity
- immobilizeStop all motion
disarm · weaken · debilitate · overwhelm · impotent · vulnerable · ineffective · subjugate
Paralysis with trembling
- quadriplegiaParalysis below the neck
- paraplegiaLower body immobility
- hemiplegiaOne-sided bodily paralysis
- strokeSudden brain blood blockage
spinal cord injury · neuropathy · multiple sclerosis · cerebral palsy · poliomyelitis · muscular dystrophy · myelopathy · botulism
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
anxiety · phobia · petrify · fright · alarm · trauma · trepidation · apprehension · unease · freeze
gridlock
Complete mutual obstruction
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
logjam · halt · standstill · impasse · stall · shutdown · freeze · cripple · hamstring · bureaucracy
stun
Daze by force
- stupefactionMental numbness from shock
- dumbfoundShock into silence
- flabbergastShock into speechlessness
startle · thunderstruck · aghast · stupefy · daze · jolt · disbelief · astonishment · bewilderment · speechless
helpless
Unable to act independently
- incapacitateDeprive of strength or ability
- crippleSeverely impair function
- disableRemove functional capacity
immobilize · disarm · weaken · debilitate · overwhelm · impotent · vulnerable · ineffective · subjugate · hobble
palsy
Paralysis with trembling
- quadriplegiaParalysis below the neck
- paraplegiaLower body immobility
- hemiplegiaOne-sided bodily paralysis
stroke · spinal cord injury · neuropathy · multiple sclerosis · cerebral palsy · poliomyelitis · muscular dystrophy · myelopathy · botulism · nerve damage
paralyzesactivates
Causes to function
jumpstarts · revitalizes · restores · reanimates · reinvigorates