incapacitate Definition
- 1to make someone unable to work or do things normally, or to make something unable to work or operate normally
- 2to injure someone seriously
Using incapacitate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "incapacitate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The accident incapacitated him for months.
Example
The virus can incapacitate the computer's operating system.
Example
The enemy's attack was intended to incapacitate the soldiers.
incapacitate Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for incapacitate
- disable
- immobilize
- paralyze
- cripple
- knock out
Antonyms for incapacitate
Phrases with incapacitate
to make someone unable to work due to injury or illness
Example
The injury incapacitated him for work for several weeks.
to make someone unable to do something due to injury or illness
Example
The illness incapacitated her from participating in the marathon.
a powerful and damaging hit that renders someone unable to continue fighting or functioning normally
Example
The boxer delivered an incapacitating blow to his opponent's head.
Origins of incapacitate
from Latin 'in-' meaning 'not' + 'capacitare' meaning 'to make able'
Summary: incapacitate in Brief
To 'incapacitate' [ɪn.kəˈpæs.ɪ.teɪt] means to render someone or something unable to function normally, either by injury or damage. It can refer to a person being unable to work or perform daily tasks, as well as to a machine or system being unable to operate properly. Examples include 'The virus can incapacitate the computer's operating system' and 'The enemy's attack was intended to incapacitate the soldiers.'