par·a·lyt·ic
ˌper-ə-ˈli-tik 
ˌpa-rə-
1
: affected with, characterized by, or causing paralysis
2
: of, relating to, or resembling paralysis
Synonyms
Examples of paralytic in a Sentence
Adjective
a group of paralytic drunks
at first, he would not accept that he was now paralytic and needed help
Recent Examples on the Web
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024
The number of paralytic polio cases remains relatively low because much of the population has been immunized—so far this year there have been five in each country.
—science.org, 19 June 2024
Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2024
Oklahoma's protocol also continues to use a paralytic, an unnecessary and dangerous aspect of the process that serves only to mask problems from public view.
—Sophie Reardon, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2021
See all Example Sentences for paralytic 
Adjective
The drug functions as a sedative to induce unconsciousness before two others, one a paralytic agent and another to stop the heart, take effect.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2024
The number of paralytic polio cases remains relatively low because much of the population has been immunized—so far this year there have been five in each country.
—science.org, 19 June 2024
Noun
If nitrogen hypoxia is proven to be safe, effective and easy to administer, the availability of nitrogen reduces the strain of locating and obtaining the sedatives and paralytics for our current protocol.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2024
Oklahoma's protocol also continues to use a paralytic, an unnecessary and dangerous aspect of the process that serves only to mask problems from public view.
—Sophie Reardon, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2021
See all Example Sentences for paralytic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paralytic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near paralytic
Cite this Entry
“Paralytic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paralytic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paralytic
1 of 2 adjective
par·a·lyt·ic
ˌpar-ə-ˈlit-ik
1
: affected with, marked by, or causing paralysis
2
: of, relating to, or resembling paralysis
paralytic
2 of 2 noun
: one affected with paralysis
Medical Definition
paralytic
1 of 2 adjective
par·a·lyt·ic
ˌpar-ə-ˈlit-ik
1
: affected with or characterized by paralysis
2
: of, relating to, causing, or resembling paralysis
paralytic
2 of 2 noun
: one affected with paralysis
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