as in exhaustion
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in shuffling
to walk while favoring one leg
she limped all day after stubbing her toe on the lawn sprinkler
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
the damaged boat limped back into port
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dragging
to move slowly
we'll have to stop limping if we are ever going to make our destination in time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 limping
Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor scored on an 80-yard reception in the second quarter and ran into the tunnel limping following the play.
—CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025
Springer fell to the ground in pain and was eventually helped off the field limping.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Once off the field, Burrow was observed limping in the tunnel of the stadium with no shoe on his left foot.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
While Belly writes thank-you cards for her bridal shower, Conrad enters the house limping.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Canada faced Czechia later in the evening, a game in which the defending Olympic champion’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin did not return after limping off in the first period.
—John Wawrow, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2026
After limping toward a medical tent for checks, Vonn was airlifted to the hospital, where scans confirmed the extent of her injury.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
After the game, Doncic was limping down the hallway.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Video footage by a local news site showed at least one person being carried in a blanket from a boat moored on the side of a jetty into a waiting coast guard vehicle with blue flashing lights, as others appear to lead two children, one of them limping, toward the car.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
She’s been recovering from hip surgery and limping through the season, almost quitting after the World Championships last March.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
The playoffs will also feature more teams limping to the finish line.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County Animal Services shared that one of its enforcement officers was on routine patrol in the Homestead area when the officer stumbled upon Buttercup, which was limping.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
The chopper flew across New York harbor and landed at a Manhattan heliport, where Maduro, limping, was loaded into an armored vehicle.
—Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor scored on an 80-yard reception in the second quarter and ran into the tunnel limping following the play.
—CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025
Springer fell to the ground in pain and was eventually helped off the field limping.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Once off the field, Burrow was observed limping in the tunnel of the stadium with no shoe on his left foot.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
While Belly writes thank-you cards for her bridal shower, Conrad enters the house limping.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
But with a mini injury crisis in Alexander Blessin’s midfield, Irvine managed 90 minutes against Stuttgart, visibly limping during the game and running with obvious discomfort, but still playing extremely well.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Canada faced Czechia later in the evening, a game in which the defending Olympic champion’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin did not return after limping off in the first period.
—John Wawrow, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2026
After limping toward a medical tent for checks, Vonn was airlifted to the hospital, where scans confirmed the extent of her injury.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
After the game, Doncic was limping down the hallway.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Video footage by a local news site showed at least one person being carried in a blanket from a boat moored on the side of a jetty into a waiting coast guard vehicle with blue flashing lights, as others appear to lead two children, one of them limping, toward the car.
—CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
She’s been recovering from hip surgery and limping through the season, almost quitting after the World Championships last March.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
The playoffs will also feature more teams limping to the finish line.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County Animal Services shared that one of its enforcement officers was on routine patrol in the Homestead area when the officer stumbled upon Buttercup, which was limping.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limping
Noun
-
Combining heavy amounts of alcohol on top of exhaustion and a lack of food, Sullivan blacked out.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
-
In Worcester, which lay more than 40 miles from the Charlestown line, a parched and dusty rider arrived at the square in front of the church, where his horse collapsed in exhaustion.—
Kostya Kennedy,
Time,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bridgerton treats it as though every woman got multiples of their yearbook photo to hand around as headshots, and Benedict’s taking what would have been treasured personal heirlooms and just shuffling through them and tossing out anyone with the wrong hair color.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Silvia showed them little affection or attention, shuffling quickly through the infants to feed, change, or hold them.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He’s saved by a drunken Ser Arlan, who comes stumbling into the alley and instinctively follows his knightly code to defend the innocent.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The victim was then seen stumbling backwards and sustained a visible mark on her neck, according to the sheriff's office.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Negotiators are showing few signs of backing down from their demands, and there’s little holding back talks from dragging on for the foreseeable future.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Eliza was eventually turned over to a bounty hunter, who, along with her original enslaver, went to Chicago and captured her, apparently dragging her down Adams Street, Krupa said.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trail users may experience intermittent flagging on the trail below the bridge to support overhead work.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But in a statement addressing his removal, Aguilar said Berkeley’s independent police oversight system is experiencing a hobbling pressure that’s being felt nationwide.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
11 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
Verb
-
Know More Apple’s leadership once thought Apple News could be an antidote to bad information online, and serve as a lifeline for a struggling news industry displaced by powerful tech platforms.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The University of Houston poll shows Abbott's preferred candidates struggling with Republican primary voters.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To save energy and prevent overheating, there’s a handy power button on top to easily turn the system on and off without crawling beneath your desk to access the wall outlet.—
Kelsey Borovinsky,
Architectural Digest,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Our March trip coincided with the birthing season, and as a result the place was crawling with baby animals.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Limping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limping. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
