1
as in hampering
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in limping
to walk while favoring one leg
I hobbled home with a twisted ankle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of hobbling
While the Rockets enter Thursday’s home game seeded third in the West and winners of seven of 10, the visiting and hobbling Warriors (31-30) are clinging to the eighth seed after losing two in a row.
—
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Falling returns, investment exit worries, longer holding periods and tougher fundraising conditions are hobbling the private equity industry, with experts warning that only the strongest will survive.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points off the bench for the Suns before hobbling off the court in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
The right guard has pushed through a lot of injuries during his three seasons with the franchise, often hobbling around the locker room before crushing down on defensive linemen on Sundays.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
After hobbling off the field, the signal-caller attempted to continue to play but the Chiefs then had to call in their emergency quarterback, Chris Oladokun.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
With injuries hobbling its other quarterbacks, Indianapolis turned to an unusual stopgap measure in Rivers — who is older than 13 of the NFL’s 32 head coaches, including Colts coach Shane Steichen — to salvage its playoff aspirations.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
Along with that update, Holder also provided a quick video showing Jones hobbling from the field into the tunnel.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Queta, in visible pain, was briefly evaluated on the Celtics’ bench before hobbling down the tunnel.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Falling returns, investment exit worries, longer holding periods and tougher fundraising conditions are hobbling the private equity industry, with experts warning that only the strongest will survive.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points off the bench for the Suns before hobbling off the court in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
The right guard has pushed through a lot of injuries during his three seasons with the franchise, often hobbling around the locker room before crushing down on defensive linemen on Sundays.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
After hobbling off the field, the signal-caller attempted to continue to play but the Chiefs then had to call in their emergency quarterback, Chris Oladokun.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
With injuries hobbling its other quarterbacks, Indianapolis turned to an unusual stopgap measure in Rivers — who is older than 13 of the NFL’s 32 head coaches, including Colts coach Shane Steichen — to salvage its playoff aspirations.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
Along with that update, Holder also provided a quick video showing Jones hobbling from the field into the tunnel.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Queta, in visible pain, was briefly evaluated on the Celtics’ bench before hobbling down the tunnel.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobbling
Verb
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Some lawmakers think the staff reductions are hampering farmers’ ability to access programs.—
Patricia Kime,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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A number of airlines have halted flights to Dubai, hampering travel and freight transport.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Inter Milan is limping into the international break on a four-match winless streak across all competitions that has seen its Serie A lead reduced to six points.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
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He was listed as questionable for the game with right knee soreness and could be seen limping throughout the game.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Japan’s aging population is a long-running issue, impeding economic growth and putting immense pressure on the public coffers.—
Junko Ogura,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
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The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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State investigators say federal authorities have blocked them from accessing evidence, hindering a possible use-of-force investigation.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
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However, tariff threats from the US — Nigeria’s third-largest export market — and inflationary pressures caused by the war in Iran risk hindering that progress.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Harbaugh has taken a blow torch to the Giants’ embarrassing special teams unit.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At the time, the Department of Homeland Security said Rahman was arrested for obstructing federal officers.—
Chloe Rosen,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Jennings was charged obstructing a government operation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hobbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobbling. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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