as in to paralyze
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the downtown development committee claims that it's hamstrung by city ordinances protecting historic buildings
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Recent Examples of hamstring
Liverpool’s much lower figure here should mean the club has more free cash for new transfer activity, as they’re not hamstrung by large payments on historic deals.
—
Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
The administration has insisted that the country has been hamstrung by tariffs imposed by other countries.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
But now it’s been hamstrung by more than 1 billion Canadian dollars in debt, a weak consumer economy and an inability to pay bills.
—David Moin, WWD, 24 Mar. 2025
Massive layoffs initiated this week at the Education Department could hamstring the federal government’s efforts to assist students with disabilities, former officials and education experts said, citing blows to the agency’s civil rights and research divisions.
—Adam Edelman, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
The administration has insisted that the country has been hamstrung by tariffs imposed by other countries.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025
But now it’s been hamstrung by more than 1 billion Canadian dollars in debt, a weak consumer economy and an inability to pay bills.
—David Moin, WWD, 24 Mar. 2025
Massive layoffs initiated this week at the Education Department could hamstring the federal government’s efforts to assist students with disabilities, former officials and education experts said, citing blows to the agency’s civil rights and research divisions.
—Adam Edelman, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstring
Verb
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Inflammation from these conditions can paralyze the colon, causing symptoms like bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.—
Janelle McSwiggin,
Health,
6 June 2025
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Fear of the unknown, driven by economic instability and geopolitical shifts, can paralyze teams.—
David Meade,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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But their deadly design may undermine human health, too.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
5 June 2025
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Overemphasizing uncertainties can be used to raise doubt and unduly undermine confidence in robust findings.—
H. Christopher Frey,
The Conversation,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Bias, inaccuracies and missing values can all weaken model reliability.—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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Coercing democratic allies such as Canada or Denmark more broadly weakens trust in U.S. alliances; threatening Panama reawakens fears of imperialism throughout Latin America; crippling the U.S. Agency for International Development undercuts the United States’ reputation for benevolence.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
Verb
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To pry the babies away from their mothers, poachers often kill or incapacitate the mothers and their troops, prosecutors said in the release.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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Thousands more were injured or incapacitated by the cold weather.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hamstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstring. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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