as in paralyzes
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstrings
Verb
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Catching a glimpse of Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre temporarily paralyzes his victims much the same way a glance from Medusa will turn someone into stone.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025 -
The role is particularly noteworthy considering Dane announced earlier this year that he was diagnosed with ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that gradually paralyzes the body by destroying the nerve cells that control muscle movement.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Second, this ambiguity around responsibility cripples an organization’s ability to respond effectively.—
Nelson Lim,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
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Drones allow aggressors to target critical infrastructure that cripples a defender’s economy at low cost and with high accuracy.—
Omar Al-Ubaydli,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Majumdar’s inconsistent world building ultimately undermines the reader’s ability to invest in the story.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
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Polymer chains tend to slip during loading, which undermines the effective utilization of their high intrinsic mechanical properties, thereby limiting the strength and toughness of polymer fibers.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Lee was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age 2, a degenerative disease that gradually weakens muscles.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Unlike some of the burger chain’s peers, Cramer said McDonald’s has immense scale and strength and is making an effort to lower prices as consumer spending weakens.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Lorenzo confronts and incapacitates Pepe, Sonia’s main ally, before facing Sonia herself.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hamstrings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstrings. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
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