1
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
we were hobbled by the snowstorm from getting out to do some Christmas shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in let
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 hobble
NBC News, 24 May 2021
Through her years with Lil Hobbs, Kathryn has helped the dog with several health issues, including cataracts, arthritis, loose and fractured teeth, and permanent a hobble in the pup's walk.
—People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 20 Apr. 2022
Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
Given the polarization that has bedeviled society for the past decade, Francis Coppola’s struggle now becomes a parable for all the ways in which a filmmaker’s integrity and inspiration can be hobbled — including the deranged partisanship that hides behind today’s activist-filmmaker impulse.
—Armond White, National Review, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hobble
Verb
Her bound ankles were pulled behind her back and attached with a hobble to a belt around her waist.
—NBC News, 24 May 2021
Through her years with Lil Hobbs, Kathryn has helped the dog with several health issues, including cataracts, arthritis, loose and fractured teeth, and permanent a hobble in the pup's walk.
—People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 20 Apr. 2022
Noun
While dozens of events have been earnestly curated to benefit visitors and local community, the signs exist that the tourism industrial complex might have hobbled their growth.
—Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025
Given the polarization that has bedeviled society for the past decade, Francis Coppola’s struggle now becomes a parable for all the ways in which a filmmaker’s integrity and inspiration can be hobbled — including the deranged partisanship that hides behind today’s activist-filmmaker impulse.
—Armond White, National Review, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hobble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobble
Verb
-
Ward was arrested in Texas on June 12 and charged with assault on a family member by impeding breathing or circulation, which is a third-degree felony.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Sources claimed the suit could have impeded Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, which requires approval from the FCC under the Trump administration.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Over the last decade, the tech giant has limped through controversies related to election interference, radicalization, disinformation, and the mental health and well-being of teens.—
Rashi Shrivastava,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Despite guiding the Terps to three consecutive bowl wins for the first time in program history, Locksley came under fire after last year’s squad limped to a 4-8 record and a 1-7 mark in the Big Ten.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The rescue was made in an area that search teams had attempted to reach the day before, but were hindered by severe weather conditions.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
For a company as vast and diverse as PepsiCo, inconsistency in planning systems can hinder visibility and performance.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And Taiwan's currency has appreciated sharply this year against the U.S. dollar, a hindrance for an economy so heavily dependent on exports.—
Satviki Sanjay Bloomberg,
Arkansas Online,
9 Aug. 2025
-
In our experience, this system has been a hindrance to speeding software delivery, rather than an enabler.—
Lisa Umberger,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Aug. 2025
-
After a development process allegedly hampered by a myriad of technical issues, Alexa+ started rolling out to users' Amazon Echo devices earlier this year, albeit with a limited feature set compared to Amazon's final vision for the product.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Like the Democrats, Republicans sport an inability to recognize government force as the monopoly of concern and the most worrisome impediment to competition.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Satisfying in their inevitability, no twist or impediment was too much to prevent the heroine from marrying her man.—
Grace Aldridge
August 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Dodgers embarrassed them on the field and then hit the podcast circuit to shame them some more, ridiculing their defense, their baserunning, their lack of composure and even their unnecessary visits to the mound.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Big yikes: This is a sarcastic phrase to publicly mock or shame someone for a cringey comment, outfit, or behavior and is used to embarrass others in group chats or social media.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Like all great period romances, Maurice places aching desire at the forefront, with the men's palpable yearning made all the more soul-shattering by the fetters of their time.—
Lia Beck,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
-
But Trump famously wriggles free from such fetters and resists being hemmed in.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Hobble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobble. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share