incapacitate

1 of 2

verb

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 

incapacitated; incapacitating

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of capacity or natural power : disable

an injury that incapacitated her

learned how to incapacitate an attacker

2

: to make legally incapable or ineligible

Infancy does not incapacitate the infant from bringing the action …

—Henry v. City of New York, 724 N.E.2d 372 (1999)

incapacitation

ˌin-kə-ˌpa-sə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

incapacitation

2 of 2

noun

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​ta·​tion

: the act of incapacitating or state of being incapacitated : incapacity

Synonyms of incapacitate

Verb

• paralyze
• cripple
• undermine

Examples of incapacitate in a Sentence

Verb

The class teaches you how to incapacitate an attacker.

The stroke left her completely incapacitated.

He was incapacitated by the pain.

a computer system incapacitated by software problems

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Levin said that nothing could justify Lewie’s firing several shots at McConnell after he was incapacitated on the ground. — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026

Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh (played by Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer hired to finish the bestselling book series of renowned author Verity Crawford after an accident leaves her incapacitated. — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Fragments of the powerhouse author’s path to her incapacitating accident then unfold through Lowen’s POV, starting with Verity’s steamy first encounter with Jeremy. — Fawnia Soo Hoo, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026

Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers on board seized control of the plane. — Michael Sinkewicz , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for incapacitate

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate
• isocyanate

Kids Definition

incapacitate

verb

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpas-ə-ˌtāt 

incapacitated; incapacitating

: to make incapable : disable

incapacitation

-ˌpas-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

incapacitate

transitive verb

in·​ca·​pac·​i·​tate ˌin-kə-ˈpa-sə-ˌtāt 

incapacitated; incapacitating

1

: to make legally incapable or ineligible

mental illness alone will not incapacitate a person from making a valid contract

—Landmark Med. Ctr. v. Gauthier, 635 A.2d 1145 (1994)

2

: to deprive of capacity or natural power

an injury that incapacitates the employee

incapacitation

-ˌpa-sə-ˈtā-shən 

noun