1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that's a pretty lame way to treat someone
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
the amenities at this hotel are lame; there's not even free Wi-Fi in the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
we were afraid that the horse would be lamed by its horrible fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lame
Padgett Powell,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
On paper, some of the six, all of whom are far-right conservatives, have enviable educational backgrounds, but the record has proven that each one is openly political and willing to rubber-stamp nearly all of DeSantis’ lame and unconstitutional policies.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
In November 2008 an errant air strike, conducted under auspices of a lame-duck Bush administration, killed 37 civilians who were at a wedding party in Wech Baghtu, Afghanistan.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
At supper the guides exchanged significant glances across the fire and acted like a couple of guys who have picked a lame horse.
—
Fred Bear,
Outdoor Life,
11 June 2026
The Browns are clearly in rebuild mode, with 2026 expected to be a lame-duck season at quarterback with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders vying for the starting job for a season before the team uses the 2027 draft to select its latest quarterback of the future.
—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Our lame-duck governor is happily corrupt and no longer answerable to Floridians.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Why should Pritzker or any Illinois politician help this lame-duck mayor?
—
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
As lame as the fact that an Erewhon smoothie costs $19 is that so many of us need to be paid to be nice to each other.
—
Swan Huntley,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
Adjective
Stronger and more flavorful than in your original lame iteration?
—
Padgett Powell,
Harpers Magazine,
30 June 2026
On paper, some of the six, all of whom are far-right conservatives, have enviable educational backgrounds, but the record has proven that each one is openly political and willing to rubber-stamp nearly all of DeSantis’ lame and unconstitutional policies.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
In November 2008 an errant air strike, conducted under auspices of a lame-duck Bush administration, killed 37 civilians who were at a wedding party in Wech Baghtu, Afghanistan.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
At supper the guides exchanged significant glances across the fire and acted like a couple of guys who have picked a lame horse.
—
Fred Bear,
Outdoor Life,
11 June 2026
The Browns are clearly in rebuild mode, with 2026 expected to be a lame-duck season at quarterback with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders vying for the starting job for a season before the team uses the 2027 draft to select its latest quarterback of the future.
—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Our lame-duck governor is happily corrupt and no longer answerable to Floridians.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Why should Pritzker or any Illinois politician help this lame-duck mayor?
—
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
As lame as the fact that an Erewhon smoothie costs $19 is that so many of us need to be paid to be nice to each other.
—
Swan Huntley,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lame
Adjective
-
Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.
-
Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.
Adjective
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In their grievance letter, the detainees called the markups an unacceptable business practice with no apparent limit.
-
Overt racial prejudice, long considered socially unacceptable, is increasingly visible in public life, marking a shift from previously subtle forms.
Verb
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Sanctions on remittance and food delivery apps could further cripple the island nation, María José Espinosa, executive director of the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas, said.
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As a result, teams across the league have become more wary about handing out big-money, long-term deals in free agency, as one mistake has the potential to cripple a franchise.
Adjective
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Microchips are relatively cheap and are required for every pet in Los Angeles County over 4 months old.
-
Prove Your Claims With Evidence In a market flooded with AI capabilities, claims are cheap, and every launch sounds the same.
Adjective
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Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
-
The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Verb
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Airbus UpNext's DragonFly project is developing AI that manages complex emergencies autonomously when the crew is incapacitated.
-
According to the law enforcement investigation, Garcia activated her Taser seven times in a row in about a minute, with the State Patrol concluding that three to four of those activations occurred after Tomlinson was already incapacitated by the initial Taser deployments.
Adjective
-
Most notably, though, is its easy-to-clean material, which one flight attendant appreciates when up against dirty baggage claims and surprise spills.
-
Crafted with Grey Goose vodka and Carpano Dry Vermouth, the cocktail is prepared to each guest’s preference—whether dry, dirty, extra dirty, shaken or stirred—from the restaurant’s signature martini cart.
Adjective
-
Something told me that there was something wrong.
-
The interest rate hypothesis points the wrong direction — the most rate-sensitive occupations, like construction, have the lowest AI exposure.
Cite this Entry
“Lame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lame. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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