paralysinglyparalyzinglyadv.
/ˈparəlʌɪzɪŋli/, U.S. /ˈpɛrəˌlaɪzɪŋli/ figurative.
In a paralysing manner. Chiefly in hyperbolical use (modifying an adjective): extremely; terribly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > [adverb] > in a manner making powerless or helpless
paralysingly1883
1883 Manitoba Daily Free Press 24 Mar. 2/3 Mat Carpenter died not so paralyzingly poor after all.
1912 A. Lang Shakespeare, Bacon & Great Unknown ix. 176 As ‘nothing is known of the disposition and character’ of Shakespeare's grand-daughter,..it is not so paralysingly strange that nothing is known of any relics or anecdotes of Shakespeare which she may have possessed.
1926 Socialist Rev. Dec. 21 The paralysingly stupid 70/-a week shipping or insurance clerk.
1968 P. Gilliat What's it Like Out? (BNC) [His] humour seemed entirely immobile... But to complain that its effect was..paralysingly glum would no more have occurred to her as fair than to complain that it made her feel fat.
1995 Sun (Baltimore) (Nexis) 10 Sept. (Perspective section) 7 j A widespread myth maintains that Christendom was almost paralyzingly obsessed with the expectations of the End as the year 1000 approached.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1883