paralyze
gb/pˈɛɹəlˌaɪz/ us/pˈɛɹəlˌaɪz/
B2
English
megbénít
VERB
B2
1
megbénít
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] paralyzes [someone/something]
The fear of making a mistake paralyzed him, and he missed the deadline.
A hibázástól való félelem megbénította, ezért lekéste a határidőt.
Conflicting advice paralyzed the team, so nothing got approved.
Az egymásnak ellentmondó tanácsok megbénították a csapatot, így semmit sem hagytak jóvá.
Her anxiety paralyzed her in meetings, even when she knew the answers.
Learner examples
Stress can paralyze people.
A stressz megbéníthatja az embereket.
The news paralyzed me for a moment.
A hír egy pillanatra megbénított.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with physical paralysis; this meaning is often figurative.
Meaning
make someone unable to act
Collocations
paralyze decision-making
|paralyze progress
|paralyze efforts
|paralyze the process
|paralyze action
|paralyze a response
|paralyze someone with doubt
|paralyze someone with uncertainty
|be paralyzed by anxiety
|be paralyzed by uncertainty
Synonyms
cripple (More informal and often stronger; can sound insensitive about disability.)
|
stifle (Emphasizes blocking activity or expression rather than total inability to move.)
|
hamper (Suggests making something difficult, not completely impossible.)
Antonyms
mobilize (Means to prepare and act, rather than being unable to act.)
|
spur (Means to encourage action instead of stopping it.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|work
|daily_life
Definition
To stop someone from acting or deciding.
To make someone unable to act, decide, or respond normally, often because of shock, anxiety, or uncertainty.
VERB
C1
2
megbénít
B2
Usage pattern:
[injury/illness/drug] paralyzes [someone/body part]
The accident paralyzed him from the waist down.
A baleset miatt deréktól lefelé megbénult.
A stroke can paralyze one side of the body.
A stroke megbéníthatja a test egyik oldalát.
The toxin paralyzed the muscles that control breathing.
Learner examples
The injury paralyzed his legs.
A sérülés megbénította a lábait.
The medicine can paralyze the muscles.
A gyógyszer megbéníthatja az izmokat.
Common mistake:
Use paralyze (verb) for the action; paralysis (noun) for the condition.
Meaning
cause loss of movement
Collocations
paralyze a limb
|paralyze the legs
|paralyze the lower body
|paralyze someone from the neck down
|paralyze the vocal cords
|partially paralyze
|permanently paralyze
|temporarily paralyze
|be paralyzed on one side
|paralyze the muscles
Synonyms
immobilize (Often temporary and can be mechanical; not always medical.)
|
disable (Broader; can mean stopping normal function, not specifically loss of movement.)
Antonyms
revive (Return function or activity after being stopped.)
|
restore (Bring back lost ability or function.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|body
Definition
To make a body or a person unable to move.
To cause someone or part of the body to lose the ability to move, and sometimes to lose feeling, especially because of illness, injury, or a drug.
VERB
C1
3
megbénít
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] paralyzes [someone] | be paralyzed with/by [emotion]
The scream paralyzed her with fear.
A sikoly hallatán úgy megbénult a félelemtől, hogy meg sem tudott mozdulni.
He was paralyzed by shock when he saw the damage.
Amikor meglátta a károkat, a sokktól teljesen megbénult.
For a second, panic paralyzed him and he couldn’t speak.
Learner examples
I was paralyzed with fear.
A félelemtől teljesen megbénultam.
The loud noise paralyzed me.
A hangos zaj teljesen megbénított.
Common mistake:
This is usually used for a short, sudden reaction (often with with/by).
Meaning
freeze from fear or shock
Collocations
paralyze with fear
|paralyze with terror
|paralyze with shock
|be paralyzed with fear
|be paralyzed by terror
|momentarily paralyze
|nearly paralyze
|paralyzed with grief
|paralyzed by panic
|paralyzed by shock
Synonyms
freeze (Very common and informal; focuses on not moving.)
|
petrify (Stronger and more dramatic; often literary.)
Antonyms
calm (Remove fear or agitation so normal movement/behavior returns.)
|
steady (Help someone regain control after shock.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
Definition
To make someone freeze because they are very afraid or shocked.
To make someone suddenly unable to move or speak because of intense fear, shock, or distress.
VERB
B2
4
megbénít
B2
Usage pattern:
[event/problem] paralyzes [place/system/service]
Heavy snow paralyzed traffic across the region.
A nagy havazás megbénította a közlekedést az egész térségben.
The cyberattack paralyzed the company’s systems for hours.
A kibertámadás órákra megbénította a vállalat rendszereit.
A nationwide strike paralyzed public transport.
Learner examples
Snow paralyzed the roads.
A hó megbénította a közlekedést.
The strike paralyzed the city.
A sztrájk megbénította a várost.
Common mistake:
Often used with large systems (a city, traffic, an airport), not single small objects.
Meaning
bring a system to a halt
Collocations
paralyze traffic
|paralyze the city
|paralyze the economy
|paralyze the airport
|paralyze the network
|paralyze the supply chain
|paralyze operations
|paralyze public services
|paralyze transport
|paralyze trade
Synonyms
halt (Neutral and direct; may sound less dramatic.)
|
shut down (More informal; often implies a complete stop.)
|
disrupt (Suggests interruption or disorder, not necessarily a total stop.)
Antonyms
restart (Begin operating again after a stop.)
|
keep running (Continue to operate instead of stopping.)
Themes
transport
|business
|government
|news
Definition
To stop something from working or continuing.
To stop a place, service, or organization from functioning normally, so that activity cannot continue.
Grammar
Dictionary form
paralyze
IPA
GB/pˈɛɹəlˌaɪz/
US/pˈɛɹəlˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
para - lyze (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (para)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: paralyze
- 3rd Person Singular: paralyzes
- Present Participle: paralyzing
- Past: paralyzed
Word family
Forms
paralyzes
verb
paralyzing
verb
paralyzed
verb
Core family
paralysis
noun B2
Related words
paralytic
adjective
Expressions
be paralyzed by anxiety
1/bˈi pˈɛɹəlˌaɪzd bˈaɪ æŋzˈaɪəti/
fixed phrase
unable to act because anxious
Too anxious to do anything.
Examples
- Before the interview, she was paralyzed by anxiety.
- He felt paralyzed by anxiety whenever he had to speak in public.
- They were paralyzed by anxiety and kept postponing the decision.
Learner examples
- I was paralyzed by anxiety.
be paralyzed by indecision
1/bˈi pˈɛɹəlˌaɪzd bˈaɪ ɪndɪsˈɪʒən/
fixed phrase
unable to choose or decide
To be unable to decide.
Examples
- We were paralyzed by indecision and missed the best chance to act.
- He stayed paralyzed by indecision, waiting for someone else to choose.
- The committee was paralyzed by indecision for weeks.
Learner examples
- I was paralyzed by indecision.
- They are paralyzed by indecision.
paralyzed from the waist down
1/pˈɛɹəlˌaɪzd fɹˈʌm ðə wˈeɪst dˈaʊn/
fixed phrase
unable to move lower body
Unable to move your legs and lower body.
Examples
- After the fall, he was paralyzed from the waist down.
- She survived the crash but was paralyzed from the waist down.
- The injury left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Learner examples
- He is paralyzed from the waist down.
paralyzed with fear
1/pˈɛɹəlˌaɪzd wˈɪθ fˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
unable to move from fear
So scared you cannot move.
Examples
- I stood paralyzed with fear as the dog ran toward me.
- She was paralyzed with fear and couldn’t call for help.
- He felt paralyzed with fear when the lights went out.
Learner examples
- I was paralyzed with fear.
- She is paralyzed with fear.