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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lame
Philip Elliott, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
There wasn’t much the voters could do with a menu so lame.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
This time, Kemp is a lame-duck governor no longer anchoring the GOP ticket.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 12 Apr. 2026
But large-scale remedies, such as finding alternative sources of revenue like a general tax increase to offset property tax cuts, are less likely when lawmakers and Pritzker are seeking reelection — though political pressures are lessened after the November general election in a lame-duck session.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
This struck me as heartbreakingly lame and, therefore, as a moment of vital consequence.
—Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Duke fires the shot that kills the king Dying Tommy insists Duke finish him off with the bullet like a lame horse.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Smith said the legislation could pass in December, during the lame-duck session of Congress that will follow November’s midterm elections, but that the coming days are critical.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Maybe that’s a lame hook, but that, combined with the return of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, gets them back in their spot.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
There's nothing watery, limp, or lame about an onion boil.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
And unlike other bread lames that don’t conceal the razor, this one opens and closes for maximum safety.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2024
The question is, then, how can two lames convince the girls to look their way?
—Vulture, 6 June 2023
Adjective
Unlike most lame-duck governors, California’s Gavin Newsom seems ascendant.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
There wasn’t much the voters could do with a menu so lame.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
This time, Kemp is a lame-duck governor no longer anchoring the GOP ticket.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 12 Apr. 2026
But large-scale remedies, such as finding alternative sources of revenue like a general tax increase to offset property tax cuts, are less likely when lawmakers and Pritzker are seeking reelection — though political pressures are lessened after the November general election in a lame-duck session.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
This struck me as heartbreakingly lame and, therefore, as a moment of vital consequence.
—Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Duke fires the shot that kills the king Dying Tommy insists Duke finish him off with the bullet like a lame horse.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Smith said the legislation could pass in December, during the lame-duck session of Congress that will follow November’s midterm elections, but that the coming days are critical.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Maybe that’s a lame hook, but that, combined with the return of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, gets them back in their spot.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Verb
Additional accessories High-end proofing baskets can come with many other helpful accessories like scrapers, bonus lames and even instructional e-books or DVDs.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
There's nothing watery, limp, or lame about an onion boil.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
And unlike other bread lames that don’t conceal the razor, this one opens and closes for maximum safety.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2024
The question is, then, how can two lames convince the girls to look their way?
—Vulture, 6 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lame
Adjective
-
Most of the time, experts say, vaguebooking boils down to a pitiful plea for attention on the part of the poster.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
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Given that California ranks a pitiful 49th in the nation in the condition, safety and costs of roads and bridges, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2025 Annual Highway Report, taxpayers’ transportation dollars would likely be better spent elsewhere.—
Adam Summers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Clearly, those are unacceptable results.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Trump, back in Washington, told the New York Post that even the deal Vance brought was unacceptable.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s left them vulnerable to a crisis that could crash the AI boom, destroy the S&P 500, and cripple the US economy.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The demolition of Golden Hall would cripple the central plant and sever the connection between the plant and the other buildings, according to the implementation report and preliminary work done by engineering consultancy WSP.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Solar energy is still one of the cheapest forms of energy, and energy is in higher demand than ever, partly due to artificial intelligence data center construction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
This new method uses iron, one of the most abundant and cheapest elements on Earth.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These closures reflect various factors, including poor investment returns, a lack of government support for refinery upgrades and higher carbon and energy costs.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
After McCandless and her council colleagues approved the sweeping tax breaks, King consistently spoke on how its planning process exemplified poor communication from the city, saying that current leaders should have advocated for a better deal for Independence.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In February 2025, a hiker became severely hypothermic near the summit of Vermont’s Mount Equinox during a winter storm, incapacitated with a dying phone battery.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
15 Apr. 2026
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One of four passengers in Bain’s car, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, suffered incapacitating injuries and was transported to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial from the scene, according to the report.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The residents said the large block of dirty ice crashed through their roof and landed on their living room couch.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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But because these sensors come into contact with dirty floors, they can easily get covered with dust and other debris.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Now 43-38, Charlotte has lost ground this week with difficult losses to Boston and Detroit that followed the same blueprint, as the Hornets fell off a cliff in the fourth quarter at the wrong time.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
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Overfertilizing Fertilizing too much or at the wrong time could potentially damage plant roots, leading to leaf damage and eventual drop.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lame. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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