unable to act, respond, or the like (often used euphemistically when one is busy or otherwise occupied)
He can't come to the phone now--he's incapacitated
Word origin
[1795–1805; incapacitate + -ed2]This word is first recorded in the period 1795–1805. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: mirage, oxidize, sensitivity, sharpshooter, steeplechase-ed is a suffix forming the past participle of weak verbs (he had crossed the river), and of participial adjectives indicating a condition or quality resulting fromthe action of the verb (inflated balloons). Other words that use the affix -ed include: classified, integrated, limited, registered, unsettled
Examples of 'incapacitated' in a sentence
incapacitated
"All that is really at issue is how quickly Dempsey becomes incapacitated.
Clive Barker COLDHEART CANYON (2001)
Better to disappear silently, presumed incapacitated or dead.
Clive Barker EVERVILLE (2001)
The genuinely incapacitated who work are often the hardest grafters.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He was soon incapacitated from decompression sickness but the copilot landed the plane.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
They could still be mentally alert but physically incapacitated.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The plan involved hospital equipment and several incapacitated looks.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I struggle to pull his 14-stone frame up — he is totally incapacitated.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You never find out these things until you are incapacitated.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As one gets more incapacitated, thinking about death becomes too frightening.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
At least the same protection, it is argued, should be afforded to incapacitated adults.