1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
several hamstrung attempts to reorganize the local parent-teacher association were made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hamstrung
Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 31 May 2026
Does this mean that the courts are effectively hamstrung for several weeks from the start of early voting to Election Day?
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Still, amid his newfound songwriting success, Gordy felt hamstrung by the realities of the record biz.
—Brian McCollum, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Haithcock said schools have been financially hamstrung since Act 10 – the Scott Walker-era landmark law in 2011 that curtailed union bargaining power and cut take-home pay for workers – especially amid declining student enrollment.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The lingering animosity, in his view, hamstrung budget talks and the passage of the Legislature’s most consequential proposals.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
In Oregon, too, where gray wolves have been established for longer, ranchers feel hamstrung.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
At the outset of the Hot Stove Season, the Mets moved fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in return for sure-handed, but potentially bat-hamstrung second baseman, Marcus Semien.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Yet, spending significantly more long-term money on one closer compared to the alternatives on the market could wind up leaving the Mets financially hamstrung.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
James Pearce, New York Times, 30 May 2026
Rian is similarly hamstrung by inarticulacy and masculine angst, but his storyline feels the least convincing, as if fashioned only to prove money can’t buy happiness, even if Cole convincingly suggests unspoken depths.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Qatar, the world's second-largest supplier which owns part of the world's largest gas field, has seen its export capacity hamstrung by Iranian strikes.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 19 May 2026
While Oklahoma City deployed its 10th or 11th men at times, Redick stuck to eight- or nine-man rotations, hamstrung by inefficiencies across the bottom half of the roster.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Assayas is a great filmmaker, but seems hamstrung by this being a film, not a series.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
But future work may be hamstrung by federal funding cuts.
—Joanna Thompson, Space.com, 12 May 2026
The state is hamstrung in its redistricting efforts despite a Republican trifecta by a constitutional amendment barring maps favoring a specific party.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The energy shock reverberating from the war in Iran has hamstrung the global economy.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
But that machine was largely considered a hamstrung disaster.
—Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 31 May 2026
Does this mean that the courts are effectively hamstrung for several weeks from the start of early voting to Election Day?
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Still, amid his newfound songwriting success, Gordy felt hamstrung by the realities of the record biz.
—Brian McCollum, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Haithcock said schools have been financially hamstrung since Act 10 – the Scott Walker-era landmark law in 2011 that curtailed union bargaining power and cut take-home pay for workers – especially amid declining student enrollment.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The lingering animosity, in his view, hamstrung budget talks and the passage of the Legislature’s most consequential proposals.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
In Oregon, too, where gray wolves have been established for longer, ranchers feel hamstrung.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
At the outset of the Hot Stove Season, the Mets moved fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in return for sure-handed, but potentially bat-hamstrung second baseman, Marcus Semien.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Yet, spending significantly more long-term money on one closer compared to the alternatives on the market could wind up leaving the Mets financially hamstrung.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
Liverpool have been hamstrung by the absence of their four most important attackers through injury in recent weeks, but there has been little sign of improvement as the season draws to a close.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 30 May 2026
Rian is similarly hamstrung by inarticulacy and masculine angst, but his storyline feels the least convincing, as if fashioned only to prove money can’t buy happiness, even if Cole convincingly suggests unspoken depths.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Qatar, the world's second-largest supplier which owns part of the world's largest gas field, has seen its export capacity hamstrung by Iranian strikes.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 19 May 2026
While Oklahoma City deployed its 10th or 11th men at times, Redick stuck to eight- or nine-man rotations, hamstrung by inefficiencies across the bottom half of the roster.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Assayas is a great filmmaker, but seems hamstrung by this being a film, not a series.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
But future work may be hamstrung by federal funding cuts.
—Joanna Thompson, Space.com, 12 May 2026
The state is hamstrung in its redistricting efforts despite a Republican trifecta by a constitutional amendment barring maps favoring a specific party.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The energy shock reverberating from the war in Iran has hamstrung the global economy.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstrung
Adjective
-
Acetate supplementation could replace vertical farming, which has been largely unsuccessful, and enable the use of plants as factories for producing pharmaceuticals, vaccines, or other high-value ingredients that improve our health—all without competing for farmland.—
Derek Norman,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
If an actor is unsuccessful, their information will be retained only for as long as the Casting Director reasonably considers necessary for record-keeping purposes.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
McConnell has always appeared to have a somewhat unsteady gate — a childhood bout of polio left him with a partially paralyzed leg.—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
14 June 2026
-
Your stomach isn’t literally paralyzed — but it’s slowed down enough to cause real problems.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The protest largely crippled the country’s center, with highways closed and public transportation halted by the massive crowds in both Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv metro area.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
Every team has injuries, but the Packers’ laundry list crippled a team that, when largely healthy, was a legitimate Super Bowl contender.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ignoring their perspectives on the redesign of global trade infrastructure would be both strategically shortsighted and economically inefficient.—
Meelan Gupta,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Failing to replace your filter when needed can lead to an inefficient AC system.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sharks often become bycatch – entangled in fishing nets not intended for them, they are rendered helpless and face certain death.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
After having put Brazil ahead minutes earlier, Richarlison popped a cross from Vinícius Júnior into the air, spun, and struck a spectacular acrobatic volley past Serbia’s helpless goalkeeper.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The collapse of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum bill last month was ugly — a worthy project undermined by controversial amendments and political maneuvering.—
Justin Shubow,
Washington Post,
15 June 2026
-
For patients deciding whether to restart treatment, the evidence suggests the metabolic case for trying again is not undermined by previous regain.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Decades of studies have found that in many cases, incarcerating juveniles is counterproductive, in part because these young offenders have higher rates of rearrest than those who are diverted from prison.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
-
But this framing is counterproductive.—
Jamil Wyne,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Still-high youth unemployment as well as weak social security systems further weigh on consumption.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
11 Dec. 2025
-
That would make the hierarchy and Slot look weak if the rift with Salah isn’t resolved before Saturday.—
Joe Prince-Wright,
NBC news,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hamstrung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstrung. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
