paralytic
adjective
par·a·lyt·ic
| \ ˌper-ə-ˈli-tik
, ˌpa-rə-\
, ˌpa-rə-\
Definition of paralytic
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: affected with, characterized by, or causing paralysis
2
: of, relating to, or resembling paralysis
paralytic
nounDefinition of paralytic (Entry 2 of 2)
: one affected with paralysis
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Other Words from paralytic
Adjective
paralytically
\ ˌper-ə-ˈli-ti-k(ə-)lē
, ˌpa-rə- \
adverb
, ˌpa-rə- \
adverb
Examples of paralytic in a Sentence
Adjective
a group of paralytic drunks at first, he would not accept that he was now paralytic and needed helpRecent Examples on the Web: Adjective
This is thought to be the cause of other paralytic conditions linked to viral infections, namely Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Mysterious illness that paralyzes healthy kids prompts plea from CDC," 10 July 2019 For one thing, enteroviruses were already linked to paralytic illnesses—poliovirus is a type of enterovirus. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Mysterious illness that paralyzes healthy kids prompts plea from CDC," 10 July 2019 The blooms of toxic algae are linked to paralytic shellfish poisoning. — Tegan Hanlon, Anchorage Daily News, "Eating shellfish you’ve harvested yourself is risky - and can be deadly," 6 July 2019 At these much higher concentrations, the toxin poisons shellfish and if consumed, can lead to paralytic shellfish poisoning in people. — Jenny Howard, National Geographic, "Red tides, explained," 5 July 2019 Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been found in mussels from Marin County, according to an advisory released Saturday by the California Department of Public Health. — Jaime Welton, The Mercury News, "State issues health warning for mussels sport-harvested in Marin County," 22 June 2019 The Namibian government warned of diarrheal shellfish poisoning, and the New Zealand government warned of paralytic shellfish poisoning. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's magazine, "Findings," 10 Apr. 2019 Jump ahead to the mid-1950s, when 16,000 people, mostly children, got paralytic polio every year in the US. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "The Man Who Says Science Blew Its Best Shot at an AIDS Vaccine," 1 June 2018 To date this year there have been only eight cases of paralytic polio diagnosed, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. — Helen Branswell, STAT, "Polio eradication initiative meets resistance to appeals to destroy samples," 25 May 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The traditional three-drug cocktail used sodium thiopental as a sedative and vecuronium bromide or a similar compound as a paralytic. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "We Are All Executioners Now," 25 July 2019 Cisatracurium is a paralytic used in surgeries as a skeletal muscle relaxant. — Jacob Gershman, WSJ, "Nebraska Set to Use Drug Cocktail That Includes Fentanyl in Execution Tuesday," 13 Aug. 2018 Like other states with the death penalty, Tennessee makes lethal injection the default method, using a three-drug cocktail starting with a sedative called midazolam and followed by doses of a paralytic and a heart-stopping toxin. — Jacob Gershman, WSJ, "Tennessee Death-Row Inmates Demand Execution by Firing Squad," 6 Nov. 2018 By the same logic, dosing prisoners with paralytics can also make executions less traumatic for witnesses. — Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, "The Untested Drugs at the Heart of Nevada's Execution Controversy," 11 July 2018 Nevada’s first-of-its-kind execution protocol also calls for the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl to slow Dozier’s breathing and the muscle paralytic cisatracurium to prevent movement and stop his breathing. — Ken Ritter, USA TODAY, "Nevada execution in doubt after pharmaceutical company lawsuit," 11 July 2018 Nevada's first-of-its-kind execution protocol also calls for the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl to slow Dozier's breathing and the muscle paralytic cisatracurium to prevent movement and stop his breathing. — NBC News, "Nevada execution in doubt after drug company sues to stop it," 11 July 2018 Nevada’s first-of-its-kind execution protocol also calls for the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl to slow Dozier’s breathing and the muscle paralytic cisatracurium to prevent movement and stop his breathing. — Ken Ritter, Time, "A Drug Company Is Suing to Stop Its Drug From Being Used in a Nevada Execution," 11 July 2018 Attorneys for the state and the former chief state medical officer who helped draw up the protocol last year said the paralytic is to ensure that Dozier’s breathing muscles stop. — Ken Ritter, The Seattle Times, "Nevada switches drug to be used in 1st execution since 2006," 3 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'paralytic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for paralytic
paralytic
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of paralytic
(Entry 1 of 2)
medical
: affected with or causing paralysis
British, informal
: very drunk
paralytic
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of paralytic (Entry 2 of 2)
medical
: a person who is paralyzed
See the full definition for paralytic in the English Language Learners Dictionary
paralytic
adjective
par·a·lyt·ic
| \ ˌpar-ə-ˈlit-ik
\
\
Medical Definition of paralytic
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: affected with or characterized by paralysis
2
: of, relating to, causing, or resembling paralysis
paralytic
nounMedical Definition of paralytic (Entry 2 of 2)
: one affected with paralysis