hobble

1 of 2

verb

hob·​ble ˈhä-bəl 

hobbled; hobbling ˈhä-b(ə-)liŋ  ; hobbles

intransitive verb

: to move along unsteadily or with difficulty

especially : to limp along

transitive verb

1

: to cause to limp : disable

2

[probably alteration of hopple to hobble]

a

: to fasten together the legs of (an animal, such as a horse) to prevent straying : fetter

b

: to place under handicap : hamper, impede

hobbler

ˈhä-b(ə-)lər 

noun

plural hobblers

hobble

2 of 2

noun

1

: a hobbling movement

2

archaic : an awkward situation

3

: something used to hobble an animal

Synonyms

Verb

• clog
• cramp
• embarrass
• encumber
• fetter
• hamper
• handcuff
• handicap
• hinder
• hog-tie
• hold back
• hold up
• impede
• inhibit
• interfere (with)
• manacle
• obstruct
• shackle
• short-circuit
• stymie
• tie up
• trammel

Examples of hobble in a Sentence

Verb

She picked up her cane and hobbled across the room.

She is sometimes hobbled by self-doubt.

He has been hobbled by a knee injury.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With just less than 10 minutes left in the fourth, the Mavericks got a scare when Doncic came up hobbling after colliding with Oklahoma City’s Cason Wallace. —Field Level Media, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 May 2024

Though Werner did not mention it in his remarks, solar installers across the U.S. have been hobbled by rising interest rates. —Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hobble

• hobble skirt

Kids Definition

hobble

1 of 2 verb

hob·​ble ˈhäb-əl 

hobbled; hobbling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to walk with difficulty : limp

hobble along on crutches

b

: to cause to walk with difficulty

hobbled by an ankle injury

2

a

: to keep from straying by tying two legs together

hobble a horse

b

: hamper entry 1, impede

hobble

2 of 2 noun

1

: a hobbling walk

2

: something used to hobble an animal

Medical Definition

hobble

1 of 2 verb

hob·​ble ˈhäb-əl 

hobbled; hobbling -(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to move along unsteadily or with difficulty

especially : to limp along

transitive verb

1

: to cause to limp : make lame : cripple

2

: to fasten together the legs of (as a horse) to prevent straying

hobble

2 of 2 noun

: something used to hobble an animal