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
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Recent Examples of hamstring
In addition to higher costs, a convention center expansion is also hamstrung by the city’s lack of control over a key waterfront parcel that would be needed to complete the project.
—
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
But a big-money move to European giant Barcelona smothered him in weighty expectations and he was hamstrung with a plethora of injuries.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
In a way, Sentimental Value is both boosted and hamstrung by the comparison to Worst Person.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Grossi wants the job, even though the international body has been hamstrung by infighting and failed to use political leverage to prevent or end recent conflicts.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
But a big-money move to European giant Barcelona smothered him in weighty expectations and he was hamstrung with a plethora of injuries.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
In a way, Sentimental Value is both boosted and hamstrung by the comparison to Worst Person.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Grossi wants the job, even though the international body has been hamstrung by infighting and failed to use political leverage to prevent or end recent conflicts.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstring
Verb
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Have joy, have fun, come together and do not be paralyzed by fear.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
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The recent winter storm paralyzed North Texas for about four days, leaving thousands of workers without income.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the current session the GOP think tank is conjuring ways to cut property tax, a move that will cripple county and city government’s capacity to provide services to their constituents.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
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South Florida’s agricultural community is bracing for potentially freezing cold temperatures that could cripple their crops.—
Steve Maugeri,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That changes the nature of those devices and undermines the reason to buy an iPhone in the first place.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Even for a politician known for erratic policy shifts, this swap—of longtime democratic partners that have sacrificed much for America’s benefit in exchange for an authoritarian regime intent on undermining it—is bizarre.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In overwhelmingly Democratic districts, the outcome is almost always predetermined, further depressing turnout and weakening accountability.—
Grace Rauh,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Healthy Rivers and Landscapes’ flexibility represents potentially weakened enforceable safeguards for environmental and tribal groups, as the program relies on voluntary commitments instead of mandatory flow standards.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The radiation can incapacitate critical civilian and military electronic infrastructure.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
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Perhaps the principal investigator dies, or is incapacitated.—
David Seal,
STAT,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hamstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstring. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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