1
as in hampering
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
we were hobbled by the snowstorm from getting out to do some Christmas shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in limping
to walk while favoring one leg
I hobbled home with a twisted ankle
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 hobbling
His entire right foot encased in ice, Foster bunny-hopped onto the dais, hobbling from ice foot to sneakered foot, to his seat.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Jaden McDaniels, who had 25 points and valiant defense on Rockets star Kevin Durant all night, started hobbling down the stretch of the fourth quarter and had to be pulled.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
While the Rockets enter Thursday’s home game seeded third in the West and winners of seven of 10, the visiting and hobbling Warriors (31-30) are clinging to the eighth seed after losing two in a row.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Falling returns, investment exit worries, longer holding periods and tougher fundraising conditions are hobbling the private equity industry, with experts warning that only the strongest will survive.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points off the bench for the Suns before hobbling off the court in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
The right guard has pushed through a lot of injuries during his three seasons with the franchise, often hobbling around the locker room before crushing down on defensive linemen on Sundays.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
After hobbling off the field, the signal-caller attempted to continue to play but the Chiefs then had to call in their emergency quarterback, Chris Oladokun.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
With injuries hobbling its other quarterbacks, Indianapolis turned to an unusual stopgap measure in Rivers — who is older than 13 of the NFL’s 32 head coaches, including Colts coach Shane Steichen — to salvage its playoff aspirations.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Jaden McDaniels, who had 25 points and valiant defense on Rockets star Kevin Durant all night, started hobbling down the stretch of the fourth quarter and had to be pulled.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
While the Rockets enter Thursday’s home game seeded third in the West and winners of seven of 10, the visiting and hobbling Warriors (31-30) are clinging to the eighth seed after losing two in a row.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Falling returns, investment exit worries, longer holding periods and tougher fundraising conditions are hobbling the private equity industry, with experts warning that only the strongest will survive.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Jordan Goodwin scored 17 points off the bench for the Suns before hobbling off the court in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
The right guard has pushed through a lot of injuries during his three seasons with the franchise, often hobbling around the locker room before crushing down on defensive linemen on Sundays.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
After hobbling off the field, the signal-caller attempted to continue to play but the Chiefs then had to call in their emergency quarterback, Chris Oladokun.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
With injuries hobbling its other quarterbacks, Indianapolis turned to an unusual stopgap measure in Rivers — who is older than 13 of the NFL’s 32 head coaches, including Colts coach Shane Steichen — to salvage its playoff aspirations.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hobbling
Verb
-
The council chambers have only one entrance, hampering security and accessibility needs, and the council desk itself is not ADA-compliant.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Some lawmakers think the staff reductions are hampering farmers’ ability to access programs.—
Patricia Kime,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Following the March 27 episode of SmackDown, where Nikki was seen limping and being attended to by a doctor after a post-match brawl, a new visual development has emerged.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The stock has been limping into Tuesday’s report, down 17% since the war broke out.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Looking at downtown as a whole, the new building owners aren’t naive to obstacles impeding a recovery, with the Campus at Horton and Research and Development District (RaDD) properties viewed as the biggest drag on the market.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Our soft sides could be impeding what must be done today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 2026, an injury struck him, hindering his chances of potentially winning events.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The proposal reflects broader concerns Republicans have about regulation and permitting hindering economic development, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) explained during a speech at the Hill and Valley Forum on Wednesday.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Harbaugh has taken a blow torch to the Giants’ embarrassing special teams unit.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He was convicted in 2019 of seven felonies, including obstructing a congressional inquiry, lying to investigators under oath and attempting to block witness testimony.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The driver was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and obstructing or delaying an officer, police said.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hobbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hobbling. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
