1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
several hamstrung attempts to reorganize the local parent-teacher association were made
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paralyzed
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
hamstrung by recent congressional limitations on executive power, the president can do little in this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in crippled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of hamstrung
Abhishek Singh, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Republicans like Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, who sponsored the proposal to reform the General Orders Board, said the current setup gives civilians too much power and has made officers feel hamstrung by some of the orders.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Newcastle, like Villa, are hamstrung.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Jim Richberg, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
They are hamstrung by having fewer states in their control and stricter rules that make partisan redrawing more difficult.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
This raised around £40m on top of their £18m payment from the ECB’s central sales pot, meaning Yorkshire have finally been able to shake off the onerous debt that has hamstrung operations for a generation.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The admission is just the latest bungle from New York’s beleaguered legal marijuana program, which has been hamstrung by legal challenges, a slow rollout and gaps in the law that allowed an illicit market to flourish.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
The Hill’s Jared Gans reports that Democrats are hamstrung by their own recent push to use independent redistricting commissions, taking the issue out of the hands of state lawmakers.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Yet, despite decades of advancement in digital infrastructure, network rollouts remain hamstrung by manual processes, fragmented systems and costly delays.
—Abhishek Singh, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Republicans like Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, who sponsored the proposal to reform the General Orders Board, said the current setup gives civilians too much power and has made officers feel hamstrung by some of the orders.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Newcastle, like Villa, are hamstrung.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Even if its leaders still want to move military forces abroad, their ability to do so would be hamstrung by the paralysis of vital logistics, transportation and communications infrastructure achieved through these cyberattacks.
—Jim Richberg, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
They are hamstrung by having fewer states in their control and stricter rules that make partisan redrawing more difficult.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
This raised around £40m on top of their £18m payment from the ECB’s central sales pot, meaning Yorkshire have finally been able to shake off the onerous debt that has hamstrung operations for a generation.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The admission is just the latest bungle from New York’s beleaguered legal marijuana program, which has been hamstrung by legal challenges, a slow rollout and gaps in the law that allowed an illicit market to flourish.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2025
The Hill’s Jared Gans reports that Democrats are hamstrung by their own recent push to use independent redistricting commissions, taking the issue out of the hands of state lawmakers.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstrung
Adjective
-
While Hadden-Paton was unsuccessful in keeping his dapper suit, his costar, Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, confessed to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live!—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out for comment but was unsuccessful.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Feeling paralyzed in your job search?—
Maria Gracia Santillana Linares,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Her son was left paralyzed from the mid-chest down, had to have his left leg amputated at the knee and two thirds of his bowel removed — and almost a month later, is still in the hospital, where he is intubated and fighting an infection.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The crisis has taken a toll on the Cuban population and sparked protests, crippled the economy and affected tourism.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Tony and Ziva race to the scene, finding the place crippled by a power outage followed by a ransom request for 115 million Euros.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Technology has removed many of the barriers that used to make solopreneurship inefficient.—
Matteo Pittaluga,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Chad Wackerman, a drummer and teacher, believes this change in technique —favoring the biceps over the wrist to create a louder sound — is to blame for an inefficient playing style.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And wasn’t the world hard enough, without having to care for helpless children too?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In the midst of feeling helpless, Kate said an idea took shape to commemorate the victims.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Critics argue that Lee's response to the Hortman killings—promoting misinformation and making partisan jabs—undermined attempts to build a bipartisan consensus against political violence.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
While North Korea has served as a geopolitical buffer against the US and its allies in East Asia, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles has undermined regional security and handed Washington a justification to expand its military presence on China’s doorstep.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Today’s resolution is yet another counterproductive gesture that only rewards Hamas, drags out the war and undercuts the very diplomatic efforts to free the hostages and end the suffering in Gaza.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Just cutting the reeds is counterproductive.—
Steven Franck,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hamstrung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstrung. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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