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 of hobble

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

The video tribute played during a tense moment for the Lakers’ bench as Luka Doncic had just hobbled off the court with what looked like a serious leg injury. —Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026

By the end of the game, PSG had mustered 72 per cent possession and Howe’s side was running on fumes; at one point, a player had hobbled over to the bench and asked the coaching staff how long he was expected to stay on for. —George Caulkin, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Noun

So Franco pulls himself out of bed most mornings around 4, hobbles into the dark and moves his home to a different neighborhood. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025

There was a slight hobble to his step. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025

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