1. causing someone to be unable to move or act normally
2. causing someone to be unable to think or act because of fear, shock, or overwhelming emotion

Examples

• The accident left him with a paralyzing spinal injury.
• She felt a paralyzing fear before her job interview.
• The paralyzing cold made it impossible to move quickly.
• His paralyzing anxiety prevented him from making decisions.
• The snake’s venom had a paralyzing effect on its prey.
• The paralyzing grief overwhelmed the entire family.
• Traffic came to a paralyzing halt during the snowstorm.