as in to paralyze
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hamstring
That’s where savings should come from—not from hamstringing tax policy.
—
Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The agency has, however, been criticized for being inefficient, opaque, overly reliant on private donors and hamstrung by political concerns.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
The airline industry has been hamstrung by a perfect storm of challenges over recent weeks, from labor shortages and supply disruptions to rising fuel prices.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
Former staff members say they were perpetually hamstrung by the government.
—Megha Rajagopalan, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
The agency has, however, been criticized for being inefficient, opaque, overly reliant on private donors and hamstrung by political concerns.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
The airline industry has been hamstrung by a perfect storm of challenges over recent weeks, from labor shortages and supply disruptions to rising fuel prices.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
Former staff members say they were perpetually hamstrung by the government.
—Megha Rajagopalan, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstring
Verb
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The damage was fractures to both hands, his right arm, left and right leg and some broken ribs, but the multiple injuries to his spinal cord were the most devastating of all, paralyzing his legs.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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However, so much has happened since 2020 — the year that a pandemic paralyzed the country — that Idahoans could be forgiven if their memories of the event are a little hazy.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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The site goes on to advance the theory that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab and undermines Trump’s political rivals like Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
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Critics are concerned Trump's latest move could allow the administration to purge nonpartisan career officials and replace them with political loyalists, undermining the independence of the federal workforce.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Agreeing to a pick swap with the Lynx weakened the value of the pick that the Sky traded away.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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One by one, the sectors defect, and, eventually, the leader may weaken and their government may fall.—
Julia Angwin,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.—
Kristina Goetz,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
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The program, now in its 23rd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and guardianship services, the release said.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hamstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstring. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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