hamper

verb

ham·​per ˈham-pər 

hampered; hampering ˈham-p(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to restrict the movement of by bonds or obstacles : impede

Pitching … violently in the seaway, hampered by her heavy tow …

—R. S. Porteous

b

: to interfere with the operation of : disrupt

… radio communications hampered by static …

—Globe & Mail (Toronto, Canada)

2

a

: to moderate or limit the effect or full exercise of : curb, restrain

a work environment that hampers creativity

b

: to interfere with : to impede the natural activity of : encumber

Bad weather hampered the search effort.

a project hampered by budget restraints

Synonyms of hamper

• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• embarrass

Choose the Right Synonym for hamper

hamper, trammel, clog, fetter, shackle, manacle mean to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting.

hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice

a people manacled by tyranny

Examples of hamper in a Sentence

The project was hampered by budget restraints.

Construction is hampering traffic on the highway.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hezaveh said local architects are often hampered by the reality of zoning, politics and financial constraints. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026

But that effort is hampered by years of computing underinvestment, a tepid venture capital environment, and a late start in building domestic AI models, Bloomberg reported. —J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 June 2026

Analysts worry that Pulte could politicize the office and hamper the country's intelligence gathering efforts. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 3 June 2026

The cost of silence First, the researchers examined direct defenses—the chemical and physical changes the plant undergoes to make its leaves less palatable for caterpillars and thus hamper their growth. —Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hamper

• top-hamper

Rhymes for hamper

• camper
• damper
• pamper
• scamper
• stamper
• tamper

Kids Definition

hamper

1 of 2 verb

ham·​per ˈham-pər 

hampered; hampering -p(ə-)riŋ 

: to slow the movement, progress, or action of

bad weather hampered the search

hamper

2 of 2 noun

: a large basket usually with a cover

a clothes hamper