hobble

verb

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hob·ble | \ ˈhä-bəl

hobbled; hobbling\ ˈhä-b(ə-)liŋ

Definition of hobble

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to move along unsteadily or with difficulty especially : to limp along

transitive verb

1 : to cause to limp : make lame : cripple

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

hobble

noun

Definition of hobble (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a hobbling movement

2 archaic : an awkward situation

3 : something used to hobble an animal

Other Words from hobble Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing hobble Learn More About hobble

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 Many police officers, however, have said the law will hobble proactive policing and expose officers to financial ruin and hostile scrutiny from clueless review panels. — Jesse Leavenworth, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2022 Russia’s invasion appeared to indicate the Kremlin also thought little of Zelensky, expecting the former actor to flee Kyiv out of fear for his own life in a manner that would hobble the country’s ability to resist. — Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2022 This will hobble the fortunes of Putin and his cronies — at the cost of inflicting suffering on ordinary Russians. — Nr Editors, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022 Vladimir Putin, who didn’t bargain on a tough fight, is likely to propose terms that look like concessions but are calculated to hobble Ukraine and threaten security far beyond its borders. — Thomas D. Grant, WSJ, 27 Mar. 2022 The lack of additional funding will also hobble efforts to vaccinate the world, the officials said—and thereby reduce the chance a new variant will arise and eventually hit the U.S. — Jordan Fabian, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2022 This week, as the West sought to hobble Russia with sanctions, the EU was paying as much as 660 million euros—roughly $722 million—a day to Russia, according to the Bruegel think tank. — Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 5 Mar. 2022 The West also sought to hobble Moscow’s financial system by ejecting some Russian lenders from SWIFT, the international messaging system that is used to communicate and facilitate payments among more than 11,000 banks. — Don Lee Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2022 The Supreme Court is hearing a case its conservative majority could use to hobble Biden administration efforts to combat climate change. — Mark Sherman, ajc, 28 Feb. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Through her years with Lil Hobbs, Kathryn has helped the dog with several health issues, including cataracts, arthritis, loose and fractured teeth, and permanent a hobble in the pup's walk. — People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 20 Apr. 2022 The hobble has straps that bind the ankles together, and can also attach to someone's waist. — Fox News, 21 Feb. 2022 The hobble has straps that bind the ankles together, and can also attach to someone's waist. — CBS News, 21 Feb. 2022 The department is replacing the hobble with a device that doesn't allow legs to be bent backwards. — NBC News, 24 May 2021 Another potential reason not to use the hobble was that the officers had called for paramedics. — Steve Karnowski, Star Tribune, 6 Apr. 2021 The woman was placed in a soft restraint hobble, which controls a person’s ankles and can be connected to a waist chain or belt. — Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 17 July 2020 Aurora police policy states that using a hobble on someone increases the risk for medical complications, including positional asphyxia. — Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, 17 July 2020 The officers then connected the hobble to the girl’s handcuffs, forcing her into a sitting position, according to the lawsuit. — Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hobble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.