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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hamstring
And Mass Development, the state agency that supports small business projects, was hamstrung by federal rules that also exclude multi-use projects.
—
Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Business owners and executives who disapproved of the tariffs said their companies were hamstrung by higher prices for inputs, lower product demand, supply chain shortages and a reluctance to hire or invest due to uncertainty over trade deals and a prolonged government shutdown.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
But further research on the long-term effects of space on humans is hamstrung by the small available sample size.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 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
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Business owners and executives who disapproved of the tariffs said their companies were hamstrung by higher prices for inputs, lower product demand, supply chain shortages and a reluctance to hire or invest due to uncertainty over trade deals and a prolonged government shutdown.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
But further research on the long-term effects of space on humans is hamstrung by the small available sample size.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 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
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstring
Verb
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Among the suitors vying for her affection were Brad Ledford, who was the driver in the car accident that paralyzed former congressman Madison Cawthorn; Another, Clayton Johnson, was formerly engaged to Lana Del Rey.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Several companies are developing commercial BCIs, primarily for use in people who are paralyzed.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Companies that export goods to, or import them from, the Middle East are crippled, as global supply chains are interrupted.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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This capability allows Iran to position a disguised vessel off America’s coast, launch a nuclear warhead high into the atmosphere to cripple our grid and then sink the ship to obscure its origins.—
Chuck DeVore,
Twin Cities,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And Wright will need to explain how the administration’s latest emergency measure to keep oil flowing, a temporary sanctions waiver on Iran itself, won’t undermine US military objectives.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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From a consumer standpoint, the denial of being able to watch preferred games on account of college football broadcast exclusivity undermines fan interests.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For the country’s leadership, weakened militarily and more isolated than ever, inflicting economic suffering has become the most powerful weapon available.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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Continuous support could theoretically weaken muscles, so experts advise mixing exo use with traditional ergonomics and exercise.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One was incapacitated and recovering from surgery at a Carmichael surgery center in April 2011.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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At the time, the DA's office said Lynch's status would be reviewed in one year, unless he is found to be no longer incapacitated before then.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hamstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstring. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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