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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstrung
Adjective
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But the Supreme Court denied the court order and requests to President Donald Trump from family, supporters and her attorney were unsuccessful.—
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
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The officer attempted to put out the flames with his fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful.—
Adjective
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Before the polio vaccine was introduced in 1955, tens of thousands of children were catching the disease every year; thousands of them died, and more were left paralyzed.—
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Because tariffs are a type of taxation, Mr. Trump’s plan is among the largest tax increases in decades, analysts say, a policy change that sent the stock market reeling, paralyzed corporate investment and shoved the economy closer to a recession.—
Verb
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His vengeance included turning Michigan State in for NCAA violations, leading to probation that crippled the program until the late 1970s.—
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As the city litigated and revised the environmental impact report, two devastating storms in December 2023 and February 2024 — the same series that crippled San Diego’s Ocean Beach Pier — substantially damaged the wharf.—
Adjective
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The erosion of wealth due to inefficient tax structures underscores the importance of working with specialists who understand how to leverage available tools effectively.—
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But the small farms are inefficient and help explain a national poverty rate of more than 30%, the bank points out.—
Adjective
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More generally, some people are concerned that becoming too reliant on AI for menial and routine tasks could lead to us becoming over-reliant and helpless, perhaps even to the detriment of human problem-solving or decision-making ability.—
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Asking for help isn’t the same as being helpless, Pryor noted.—
Verb
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For far too long, age discrimination has quietly undermined the security of older workers.—
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He is also set on handing his successor a strong economy -- a feat that could be undermined by a sudden energy shock reprising the price spikes earlier in his administration.—
Adjective
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Cleaner air is always appealing, but rushing into sweeping regulatory shifts that will have little long-term effect would be counterproductive.—
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When Musk is in a bad mood, well, an interview is usually counterproductive.—
Adjective
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Carbonaceous chondrites tend to be weaker and more crumbly than other meteorites, so these objects just don’t stand as much of a chance.—
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Then, McIlroy hit a weak drive to the right and was blocked by pines.—
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Cite this Entry
“Hamstrung.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstrung. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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