paralyze

paralyze
    v 1: make powerless and unable to function; "The bureaucracy
         paralyzes the entire operation" [syn: {paralyze},
         {paralyse}]
    2: cause to be paralyzed and immobile; "The poison paralyzed
       him"; "Fear paralyzed her" [syn: {paralyze}, {paralyse}]
    

Paralyze \Par"a*lyze\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Paralyzed}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Paralyzing}.] [F. paralyser. See {Paralysis}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To affect or strike with paralysis or palsy.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Fig.: To unnerve; to destroy or impair the energy of; to
      render ineffective; as, the occurrence paralyzed the
      community; despondency paralyzed his efforts.
      [1913 Webster]
    

89 Moby Thesaurus words for "paralyze":
      KO, amaze, anesthetize, appall, astonish, astound, awe, awestrike,
      bedaze, bedazzle, bemuse, benumb, besot, bewilder, blunt, boggle,
      bowl down, bowl over, chloroform, close, coldcock, confound,
      cripple, daunt, daze, dazzle, deaden, deflate, demolish,
      desensitize, destroy, disable, disarm, dismay, dope, drug, dull,
      dumbfound, dumbfounder, enchain, enfeeble, etherize, flabbergast,
      freeze, gag, hamstring, handcuff, hobble, hog-tie, horrify,
      immobilize, incapacitate, kayo, knock out, knock senseless,
      knock stiff, knock unconscious, lay out, manacle, muzzle,
      narcotize, nonplus, numb, obtund, overwhelm, palsy, perplex,
      petrify, prostrate, put to sleep, scare stiff, scare to death,
      shock, shut down, silence, stagger, startle, strangle, strike dead,
      strike dumb, strike terror into, strike with wonder, stun, stupefy,
      surprise, terrify, throttle, truss up, weaken