paralysis
/pə'rælisi:z/
Definition
- Noun:
- Loss of the ability to move a body part: A condition, often caused by disease or injury to the nervous system, where a muscle or group of muscles loses its function, resulting in an inability to move voluntarily.
- (Figurative) A state of powerlessness or inactivity: A condition in which something, such as a system, organization, or process, is unable to function or act.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Medical):
- The stroke caused paralysis on his left side.
- Spinal cord injuries can lead to permanent paralysis.
- Noun (Figurative):
- The political scandal brought the government to a state of paralysis.
- Fear of failure can create a kind of mental paralysis.
Advanced Usage
- "analysis paralysis": A state of over-analyzing (or over-thinking) a situation so that a decision or action is never taken, effectively paralyzing the outcome.
- The committee suffered from analysis paralysis and couldn't choose a vendor.
- "sleep paralysis": A temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or upon waking.
- She experienced a frightening episode of sleep paralysis last night.
Variants and Related Words
- Paralyze (verb): To cause paralysis; to make unable to function or act.
- The accident paralyzed him from the waist down.
- The strike paralyzed the city's transportation system.
- Paralytic (adjective/noun):
- (Adj.) Relating to or affected with paralysis.
- He is in a paralytic state.
- (Noun) A person affected by paralysis.
- Care for the elderly and paralytics.
Synonyms
- Palsy (noun/verb): Paralysis, often with involuntary tremors.
- Immobility: The state of not being able to move.
- Stagnation (figurative): A state of inactivity or lack of progress.
Related Phrases
- Paralysis by analysis: (See "analysis paralysis" in Advanced Usage).
- To be paralyzed with fear: To be so frightened that one cannot move or think clearly.
- She was paralyzed with fear when she saw the spider.
Related Idioms
- (Like) a deer in the headlights: A state of stunned or frozen surprise, similar to temporary paralysis.
- When asked the difficult question, he just stood there like a deer in the headlights.
Noun
-
loss of the ability to move a body part
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ gần giống
Từ chứa "paralysis"
Từ có nhắc đến "paralysis"
