paralyze

Verb

Meaning

To affect or strike with paralysis or palsy.

Fig.: To unnerve; to destroy or impair the energy of; to render ineffective; as, the occurrence paralyzed the community; despondency paralyzed his efforts.

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Examples

The mid-day sun is too much for most eyes; one is dazzled even with its reflection. Be careful that too broad and high an aim does not paralyze your effort and clog your springs of action. Learned Hand

Don't let your fear paralyze you. Prepare yourself not only technically, but also emotionally. Bob Weinstein

Judicial judgment must take deep account of the day before yesterday in order that yesterday may not paralyze today. Felix Frankfurter

To state a timetable now would simply paralyze the proper working of government, put at risk the changes we are making for Britain and damage the country. Tony Blair

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are. Bernice Johnson Reagon

Were we to undertake an exhaustive self-scrutiny, disgust would paralyze us, we would be doomed to a thankless existence. Emil Cioran

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