tetanized
/ˈtɛtənaɪzd/
adjective
- In a state of prolonged, rigid muscle contraction, as in tetanus or similar spasm.
- After the accident, his leg muscles became tetanized and he couldn't move his foot.
- The tetanized jaw made it impossible for the patient to open his mouth.
- In the lab, the frog's leg was tetanized by repeated electrical stimulation.
- Figuratively, frozen or locked in a tense, unyielding state, unable to act or respond.
- His mind felt tetanized, stuck on the same anxious thought without any progress.
- The entire team was tetanized by the sudden bad news, staring at each other in silence.
- She stood tetanized by fear, unable to speak or run from the danger.
Antonyms
verb
- Past tense of tetanize: caused a muscle or group of muscles to go into a state of sustained contraction.
- The toxin tetanized the animal's legs, leaving it stiff and unable to move.
- The electric shock tetanized the muscles in his arm, making it clench tightly.
- The experiment tetanized the tissue sample, allowing researchers to study the contraction.