1
as in shuffles
to walk while favoring one leg
she limped all day after stubbing her toe on the lawn sprinkler
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbles
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
the damaged boat limped back into port
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in drags
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
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Recent Examples of limps
Falsehood scales instantly; correction limps behind.
—
Tom Debley, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Every time one player returns to the court, another limps off.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
After the midterm elections are over, the focus gradually shifts to the next presidential election, and the incumbent president increasingly limps like a lame duck.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
Aside from creating the maze and covering it in snow, Pawbert limps his way through the maze, very much in homage to Jack Nicholson’s character.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 Nov. 2025
Tymere Jackson suffers a blow to his groin, and limps off the field.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 8 Nov. 2025
When there is much spectacle, substance limps behind, and that must be the judgement of what was achieved between India and China at Tianjin.
—Shyam Saran, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Nashville limps into the playoffs having just lost one of its top players to injury/retirement in Michelle Esquivel, while California netted a premier-level player in Martin Emmrich at the trade deadline, who seems to have energized the Black Bears heading into the playoffs.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Tom Debley, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Every time one player returns to the court, another limps off.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
After the midterm elections are over, the focus gradually shifts to the next presidential election, and the incumbent president increasingly limps like a lame duck.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
Aside from creating the maze and covering it in snow, Pawbert limps his way through the maze, very much in homage to Jack Nicholson’s character.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 Nov. 2025
Tymere Jackson suffers a blow to his groin, and limps off the field.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 8 Nov. 2025
When there is much spectacle, substance limps behind, and that must be the judgement of what was achieved between India and China at Tianjin.
—Shyam Saran, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Nashville limps into the playoffs having just lost one of its top players to injury/retirement in Michelle Esquivel, while California netted a premier-level player in Martin Emmrich at the trade deadline, who seems to have energized the Black Bears heading into the playoffs.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for limps
Verb
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Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
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That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And what about the scene when Mac has locked Bull in the room, which is flooding with water, until James [Osian Emlyn] stumbles across him and lets him out?—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
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Violet stumbles upon Sophie in the parlor, searching desperately for her necklace.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The attacks on Iran have already sent US gasoline prices higher, and will likely continue to climb as the war drags on.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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That's straining operating costs and ticket prices, both of which could become more expensive if airlines have to pay more for fuel the longer the war drags on.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Major marine war risk providers have started to scrap cover for vessels operating in the Persian Gulf as the fallout from a sudden security shock hobbles key shipping routes in the region.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2026
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Carolyn switches her nail color from a bold red to a blander shade; John hobbles out of his George magazine office wearing a cast on his left ankle due to a paragliding accident.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But rival Target reported earlier this week another quarterly decline in profits and sales during the critical holiday period as the discounter struggles with its own merchandising missteps and confronts a consumer who is focusing more on essentials.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
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In December, Wisconsin Watch reported on an Appleton technical charter school that struggles to manage high program costs and secure donations to stay afloat.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the Bay Area slowly — some might say glacially — crawls into spring, there’s nothing better than sipping a hot cup of tea or coffee to warm yourself up.—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
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As with aftermarket switchable sway bar systems, drivers can lock the sway bars in place for better handling and stability at speed and unlock them completely for maximum articulation during bumpy rock crawls.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather and defense attorneys agreed, in separate interviews with The Charlotte Observer, that the strategy halts cases and could jeopardize justice.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
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Court order halts leadership committee activity The temporary restraining order effectively stops Jones' leadership committee from raising or spending any funds for his campaign while the case moves forward.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Williams pokes a single into the right field gap for an RBI.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
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One TikTok video with over 949,000 likes pokes fun at Kempczinski's review by using similar wording to judge other McDonald's items.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Limps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/limps. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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