as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
prosecutors were hog-tied as the convicted felon was freed on a technicality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
their principals' inflexible demands virtually hog-tied the diplomats' efforts to negotiate a peace treaty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hog-tied
Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
Well, for one, the go-to induction method is being roused from your bed in the middle of the night, hog-tied, and tossed in a van.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Most damning of all is that her body was found hog-tied in a conspicuously similar fashion as Reynolds’ previous presumptive victim, Bunny Davis.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026
Well, for one, the go-to induction method is being roused from your bed in the middle of the night, hog-tied, and tossed in a van.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hog-tied
Adjective
-
Mikey Eyssimont fed Khusnutdinov low in the right circle and, with a Fraser Minten screen, snapped it past the helpless Skinner for his 13th of the season.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
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There had been a prior collision with Marc Guehi, but the hosts’ No 9 had to ask the question of VAR by nestling the ball either side of a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The journey is hampered by lack of money and other misfortunes, and it’s eventually interrupted by a gunshot, announcing the cantankerous presence of Tiga.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
-
It has also been hampered by its own investors failing to back it, Semafor’s technology editor reported.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
At age 14, Arias was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gangs, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Emt was injured in a drunk driving accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That, De Bremaeker said, impeded efforts to submit emergency court filings to prevent their removal from the country without due process.—
Anissa Rivera,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
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But the totality of the circumstances greatly impeded my ability to write Ballot.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But relying on the military to supplant the role traditionally performed by civilian law enforcement entails risks in a region where military institutions and oversight are weaker, armed forces have a legacy of human rights abuses and corruption is a perennial challenge.—
JOSHUA GOODMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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January’s stronger-than-expected total was likely buoyed by some one-time factors (notably, weaker holiday hiring that meant fewer post-holiday layoffs, and unseasonably warm weather in the early part of the month that boosted industries like construction).—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Gulf states’ strategy on Iran — focused on de-escalation and containing tensions — has hindered their ability to influence Tehran and shape the new security environment, Bader Al-Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, and Chatham House’s Sanam Vakil write for War on the Rocks.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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Richard also recalled how Amber’s COVID-19 diagnosis before she was scheduled to perform at the US Nationals in 2019 hindered her Olympics debut.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Would the girl with the bright smile have been embarrassed by her love Stitch as a teen?—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
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The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The owner, listed on the claim as Genesis GSA Strategic One LLC, county officials interfered with and obstructed the federal government's authority to enforce immigration law and open detention sites.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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After an investigation that lasted months, fuelled by eight whistle-blowers on his own staff, the legislators concluded that Paxton had taken bribes from a real-estate developer, improperly fired aides who reported his conduct, and obstructed justice.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hog-tied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hog-tied. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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