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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hamstring
In the meantime, though, San Diego was indeed hamstrung in its ability to recruit and retain employees, just as the Pension Reform Committee predicted.
—
Chris Brewster, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Removing this data not only hamstrings public health research and programming for LGBTQ+ populations, but also restricts it for all Americans.
—Nathaniel M. Tran, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2025
Wise, on the other hand, is sensuous and loving, but she too is hamstrung by the material.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2025
Severson is in the second year of an eight-year, $50 million contract (through 2030-31), the kind of long-term, big-dollar contract that can hamstring a small-market club.
—Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Chris Brewster, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Removing this data not only hamstrings public health research and programming for LGBTQ+ populations, but also restricts it for all Americans.
—Nathaniel M. Tran, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2025
Wise, on the other hand, is sensuous and loving, but she too is hamstrung by the material.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2025
Severson is in the second year of an eight-year, $50 million contract (through 2030-31), the kind of long-term, big-dollar contract that can hamstring a small-market club.
—Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hamstring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstring
Verb
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Leaders who excel at leading through crisis understand the importance of focusing on what is actionable rather than being paralyzed by uncertainty.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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And yet much like the Democrats paralyzed by the chaos at home, the last three days have exceeded their worst nightmares.—
Zachary Basu,
Axios,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Verb
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This feels eerily similar to when Trump cut a deal with the Taliban while excluding the Afghan government—undermining their legitimacy and paving the way for disaster.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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But the meeting itself provided legitimacy to far-right politicians pushing for a Christian state and undermined U.S. foreign policy, experts and officials said.—
Brett Murphy,
ProPublica,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the fourth quarter of 2024, WK Kellogg reported net sales of $640 million, a decrease of 1.7% compared to $651 million in the same period in 2023, impacted by a 5.6% volume decline and a 40 basis point headwind from the weakening Canadian dollar.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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But the Trump administration's new cuts further weaken a banking watchdog that has been sounding the alarm for years about its decreasing ability to prevent future banking crises.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Poison—the craft held an endless array of ways to stop a heart, and if studied well, a myriad of tinctures to incapacitate, dull, and deceive an enemy.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
20 Feb. 2025
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Research has shown that lithium-ion battery fires produce higher levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which can incapacitate a person.—
John Orlando,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hamstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstring. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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