hobble

1 of 2

verb

hob·​ble ˈhä-bəl 

hobbled; hobbling ˈhä-b(ə-)liŋ  ; hobbles

intransitive verb

: to move along unsteadily or with difficulty

especially : to limp along

transitive verb

1

: to cause to limp : disable

2

[probably alteration of hopple to hobble]

a

: to fasten together the legs of (an animal, such as a horse) to prevent straying : fetter

b

: to place under handicap : hamper, impede

hobbler

ˈhä-b(ə-)lər 

noun

plural hobblers

hobble

2 of 2

noun

1

: a hobbling movement

2

archaic : an awkward situation

3

: something used to hobble an animal

Synonyms

Verb

• impede
• hinder
• hamper
• embarrass
• obstruct

Examples of hobble in a Sentence

Verb

She picked up her cane and hobbled across the room.

She is sometimes hobbled by self-doubt.

He has been hobbled by a knee injury.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

His re-election bid was hobbled by the city’s Campaign Finance Board, which denied him more than $4 million in matching funds, citing the corruption charges. —Molly Ball, Time, 29 Oct. 2025

Payton’s tight end room is currently led by 31-year-old Evan Engram, who’s picked up steam but was hobbled for weeks. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

After the hobble was applied, Ellis stopped moving, the statement said. —CBS News, 22 Jan. 2024

Company Town As a Hollywood writers’ strike hobbles production, L.A. businesses brace for ripple effects May 4, 2023 Meanwhile, ISS Props tapped into the content-creator market, providing fake weights for fitness influencers and rubber weapons for internet pranksters. —Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hobble

• hobble skirt

Rhymes for hobble

• bauble
• cobble
• gobble
• labile
• squabble
• wobble
• cantabile

Kids Definition

hobble

1 of 2 verb

hob·​ble ˈhäb-əl 

hobbled; hobbling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to walk with difficulty : limp

hobble along on crutches

b

: to cause to walk with difficulty

hobbled by an ankle injury

2

a

: to keep from straying by tying two legs together

hobble a horse

b

: hamper entry 1, impede

hobble

2 of 2 noun

1

: a hobbling walk

2

: something used to hobble an animal

Medical Definition

hobble

1 of 2 verb

hob·​ble ˈhäb-əl 

hobbled; hobbling -(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to move along unsteadily or with difficulty

especially : to limp along

transitive verb

1

: to cause to limp : make lame : cripple

2

: to fasten together the legs of (as a horse) to prevent straying

hobble

2 of 2 noun

: something used to hobble an animal