paralyzing

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.

Polio was the most feared disease in America by the early 1950s, paralyzing thousands of children annually and frequently closing public places to halt its spread.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

“They will only be afraid of these protests if they last a long time and lots of people participate, paralyzing the country,” said Ákos Hadházy, an independent parliament member from Budapest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

The two sides had agreed to put further tariff increases on hold until later in the year after months of negotiations and an earlier escalation that raised tariffs on China to 145%, paralyzing trade.

From Barron's • Sep. 30, 2025

Yet in the erasure of history, in the paralyzing censorship that pervades many parts of the world, we risk forgetting the lessons of the past.

From Salon • Aug. 3, 2025

I was jacked up on adrenaline, unsure of what to do next, overcome by a paralyzing mixture of fear and rage.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline