1
as in unsuccessful
not producing the desired result
several hamstrung attempts to reorganize the local parent-teacher association were made
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paralyzed
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
hamstrung by recent congressional limitations on executive power, the president can do little in this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in crippled
to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move
the downtown development committee claims that it's hamstrung by city ordinances protecting historic buildings
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 hamstrung
Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
In Oregon, too, where gray wolves have been established for longer, ranchers feel hamstrung.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
At the outset of the Hot Stove Season, the Mets moved fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in return for sure-handed, but potentially bat-hamstrung second baseman, Marcus Semien.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Yet, spending significantly more long-term money on one closer compared to the alternatives on the market could wind up leaving the Mets financially hamstrung.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
Conservatives, who have long sought to reduce the size of the federal workforce, say Trump should not be hamstrung.
—Carlos Waters, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
The exact impacts are unclear, but airports, Amtrak trains and wildfire response would probably not be hamstrung, officials told Bay Area News Group on Monday.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Republicans like Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, who sponsored the proposal to reform the General Orders Board, said the current setup gives civilians too much power and has made officers feel hamstrung by some of the orders.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Newcastle, like Villa, are hamstrung.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Luke Smith, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
In addition to higher construction costs, the convention center expansion is hamstrung by the city’s lack of control over a key waterfront parcel that would be needed to complete the project.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
And Mass Development, the state agency that supports small business projects, was hamstrung by federal rules that also exclude multi-use projects.
—Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Business owners and executives who disapproved of the tariffs said their companies were hamstrung by higher prices for inputs, lower product demand, supply chain shortages and a reluctance to hire or invest due to uncertainty over trade deals and a prolonged government shutdown.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
But further research on the long-term effects of space on humans is hamstrung by the small available sample size.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 Jan. 2026
But a big-money move to European giant Barcelona smothered him in weighty expectations and he was hamstrung with a plethora of injuries.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
In a way, Sentimental Value is both boosted and hamstrung by the comparison to Worst Person.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Grossi wants the job, even though the international body has been hamstrung by infighting and failed to use political leverage to prevent or end recent conflicts.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Adjective
The lingering animosity, in his view, hamstrung budget talks and the passage of the Legislature’s most consequential proposals.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
In Oregon, too, where gray wolves have been established for longer, ranchers feel hamstrung.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
At the outset of the Hot Stove Season, the Mets moved fan-favorite Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers in return for sure-handed, but potentially bat-hamstrung second baseman, Marcus Semien.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Yet, spending significantly more long-term money on one closer compared to the alternatives on the market could wind up leaving the Mets financially hamstrung.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
Conservatives, who have long sought to reduce the size of the federal workforce, say Trump should not be hamstrung.
—Carlos Waters, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
The exact impacts are unclear, but airports, Amtrak trains and wildfire response would probably not be hamstrung, officials told Bay Area News Group on Monday.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Republicans like Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, who sponsored the proposal to reform the General Orders Board, said the current setup gives civilians too much power and has made officers feel hamstrung by some of the orders.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Newcastle, like Villa, are hamstrung.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
Its new car, the AMR26, has been hamstrung by issues stemming from its Honda engine right the way through the year’s opening race weekend.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
In addition to higher construction costs, the convention center expansion is hamstrung by the city’s lack of control over a key waterfront parcel that would be needed to complete the project.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
And Mass Development, the state agency that supports small business projects, was hamstrung by federal rules that also exclude multi-use projects.
—Elizabeth MacBride, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Business owners and executives who disapproved of the tariffs said their companies were hamstrung by higher prices for inputs, lower product demand, supply chain shortages and a reluctance to hire or invest due to uncertainty over trade deals and a prolonged government shutdown.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
But further research on the long-term effects of space on humans is hamstrung by the small available sample size.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 21 Jan. 2026
But a big-money move to European giant Barcelona smothered him in weighty expectations and he was hamstrung with a plethora of injuries.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
In a way, Sentimental Value is both boosted and hamstrung by the comparison to Worst Person.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Grossi wants the job, even though the international body has been hamstrung by infighting and failed to use political leverage to prevent or end recent conflicts.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstrung
Adjective
-
Such a vote — which is bound to fail but would put senators on the record — differs from using a simple majority to change the Senate rules, a vote a senator could force after an unsuccessful vote to break a filibuster.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
After numerous rounds of antibiotics were unsuccessful, a decision was made to euthanize her, according to the zoo.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
These thermal baths in Palm Springs, stewarded by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for more than five millennia and long considered a portal to the spiritual underworld and a place of healing, welcomed my paralyzed body.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Salvador Murillo pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by a peace officer for shooting an unarmed man in the back in 2020, leaving him paralyzed.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Massive piles of trash with rotting food accumulate in residential areas as the fuel shortage has crippled waste collection services.—
Carmen Sesin,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
-
But that doesn’t mean mathematicians would be crippled with ennui, Litt says.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Standard recycling is often inefficient, but the Edinburgh team, led by Professor Stephen Wallace, saw a goldmine of carbon hidden in that waste.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Herro was inefficient on Saturday, though, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field and 2-of-8 shooting on threes.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That gave the last four minutes of the third quarter and the 36-27 fourth quarter a bit of a helpless feeling.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In the meantime, Jones was stranded on an island of his own making Saturday, exasperated by another difficult game-winning shot that his wingspan was somehow helpless to affect on its own.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The judge said the government has undermined its history of recognizing the importance of involving independent experts in setting the national public health agenda.—
Lena H. Sun,
Washington Post,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Iran undermined the documentation of the tragedy.—
Mahsa Alimardani,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That seems to be counterproductive.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In July of last year Steyer sent out a tweet criticizing rent control for its deleterious and counterproductive effects.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The United States is, to her knowledge, the only country maintaining such a ban for nearly a century via Section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act—even in its weaker form with the domestic consumption loophole.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Lessons from gold and small-caps The recent spike in oil prices has not resulted in spectacular gains for gold investors fueled by a weaker dollar, as was the case in 1973.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hamstrung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstrung. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
