paralyze

v

1. numb, benumb, dull, deaden, anesthetize, freeze, drug, obtund; immobilize, disable, incapacitate, make powerless, prostrate, weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, cripple, lame, becripple.

2. shock, stagger, astound, astonish, stupefy, confound, stun, take away one's breath, jolt, strike with wonder or awe, Inf. flabbergast, Inf. scare the life out of; unman, unnerve, devitalize, sap, sap the strength of, lay low.

3. halt, arrest, check, stop, stay, impede, block; call a halt, put a stop to, put an end to; stop cold, stop dead, bring up, bring up short, pull up, stop short, bring to a grinding or screeching halt, bring to a standstill; put out of order, Inf. put out of commission, throw out of gear, sabotage, wreck, Inf. throw a wrench or monkeywrench into the works or machinery, Inf. kibosh, Inf. put the kibosh on, Inf. spike, Inf. spike the guns, Inf. put a staff in the wheels, All Sl. queer, queer the works, screw up, crab, foul up, louse up, bollix or bollox, snafu, gum, gum up the works, put a crimp in.

4. thwart, frustrate, foil, checkmate, contravene; dam, prevent, bar, deter, obstruct, slow down; stymie, hobble, hamstring, clip the wings of, put out of action; delay, retard, drag, hold up, hinder, bog down, hogtie, tie up, tie the hands of, tie up with red tape; put aside, table, pigeonhole, shelve, Inf. put on ice; stand in the way of, disrupt, confound, Sl. flummox, Inf. stonewall; undermine, castrate, emasculate, break, take the wind out of [s.o.'s] sails.

5. throttle, strangle, choke off; shut up shop, close shop, lock up, shut down, lock out, close down; strike, walk out; stalemate, deadlock.

6. drag or stretch out, hang fire, protract, prolong, extend, hang back, hang fire, stall, stall off, stall for time, Inf. drag one's feet, Sl. choke up.