1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
several hamstrung attempts to reorganize the local parent-teacher association were made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paralyzed
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
hamstrung by recent congressional limitations on executive power, the president can do little in this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in crippled
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the downtown development committee claims that it's hamstrung by city ordinances protecting historic buildings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstrung
Adjective
-
Officials said he was found semiconscious on the River Trail on June 30 but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
24 May 2025 -
Efforts to refloat the ship during high tide on Thursday were unsuccessful.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Is there a difference between being stuck and feeling paralyzed?—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
17 May 2025
-
But the duo, who were also romantically involved throughout their lives, saw their careers come to an end when Roy was attacked on stage by one of their live tigers, which damaged his spine and induced a stroke that left him partially paralyzed.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
His vengeance included turning Michigan State in for NCAA violations, leading to probation that crippled the program until the late 1970s.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
-
As the city litigated and revised the environmental impact report, two devastating storms in December 2023 and February 2024 — the same series that crippled San Diego’s Ocean Beach Pier — substantially damaged the wharf.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Businesses often overlook the financial consequences of poor hiring decisions or inefficient technology, yet these areas directly affect the bottom line.—
Raja Walia,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
The space weather exercise overseen by NOAA found that inefficient communication between space weather experts and other government agencies and stakeholders likely to deal with the fallout of these incidents could lead to incorrect conclusions.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
His curveball induced one helpless swing from the Diamondbacks (26-23) after another.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
-
Scheifele’s emotional and inspirational decision to play mere hours after his father’s unexpected death — to play for his dad, to play because of his dad — ended in cruel fashion, with Scheifele helpless in the penalty box.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
For far too long, age discrimination has quietly undermined the security of older workers.—
Gary A. Officer,
Forbes,
26 Dec. 2024
-
He is also set on handing his successor a strong economy -- a feat that could be undermined by a sudden energy shock reprising the price spikes earlier in his administration.—
Jeff Stein and Ellen Nakashima The Washington Post,
arkansasonline.com,
25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The underlying premise of the Norwegian method is that hero workouts that leave you crumpled by the side of the track are counterproductive.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
19 May 2025
-
But regulating for the sake of regulating is counterproductive, and the existing framework already goes way beyond policing fraud and consumer harms.—
Norbert Michel,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
The grand jury also criticizes city officials for weak oversight and enforcement of their contract with the Humane Society, which requires the nonprofit to enforce leash laws at 400 city parks and other venues.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 May 2025
-
And, in the long run, economists say that will translate to a weaker economy and a lower standard of living.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
22 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Hamstrung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstrung. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share