paralysis.

1. Loss or impairment of the ability to move muscles voluntarily in part or all of the body.

2. A condition in which fear, indecision, conflict, or other obstacles prevent effective action.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• partial paralysis
• paralysis of a limb

On the page

She could feel the blanket despite the paralysis of her legs.

The examination distinguished paralysis from pain that made movement difficult.

Usage notes

Primary category: horror. Forms: Usually uncountable; plural paralyses for distinct types. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.