HAMSTRING Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

hamstring

verb

Definition of hamstring

as in to paralyze

to render powerless, ineffective, or unable to move the downtown development committee claims that it's hamstrung by city ordinances protecting historic buildings

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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 hamstring Industry stakeholders argued that the measure had the unintended consequence of hamstringing Hollywood’s recovery by limiting the ability of studios to use state incentives for in-state production. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026 Gorbachev, hamstrung by demands from hard-liners back in Moscow, was equally intransigent that no deal could be made so long as SDI was in the works. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 The analysts said their supply chain checks suggest an all-glass iPhone, reportedly planned for September 2027, has been canceled, hamstringing its ability to raise average selling prices in the coming years. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026 While the Cubs World Series odds will largely dictate their aggressiveness this deadline, they won’t be hamstrung by a lack of talent in their system. — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hamstring

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstring

Verb

Over the past month, Russia has been intensifying its strikes against civilian and energy infrastructure to try to cripple the power grid before the brutal Ukrainian winter.

— Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
According to official figures, even when the thermometer plummets to minus 22 °F (-30 °C), a situation that cripples most electric vehicles, the Atto 8 can still execute a 20 % to 97% charge in just 12 minutes.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of cripple

Verb

There’s a sense that doubt would be a form of disloyalty to what came before you, or that admitting a weakness undermines the confidence of the people around you.

— Flavio Maluf, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Several roads near Westward Beach in Malibu are closed after additional erosion undermined the roadway and exposed a Los Angeles County water main.

— Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermine

Verb

Conditions were expected to improve Saturday afternoon as winds weakened, with fair and dry weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
As trust in America weakens further, other wealthy nations will make the same calculation.

— Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Yandex has run drills for an accident that could incapacitate one of its six data centers, but it was caught unprepared when its three key facilities were hit over four days.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Now, a poisonous residue on the same crowbar has left him incapacitated.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of incapacitate

Browse Nearby Words

hams

hamstring

hamstringing

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“Hamstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstring. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hamstring

verb

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