HAMSTRINGING Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

hamstringing

verb

present participle of hamstring

as in paralyzing

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 hamstringing 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 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 For example, states would often impose tariffs on each other’s goods, even if those goods were moving only from Virginia to Maryland and vice versa, thereby inhibiting the development of a national market and hamstringing internal trade. — Jordan Cash, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Connecticut has among the highest electric rates in the nation, with some officials and legislators arguing that is hamstringing economic development efforts. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2026 But in the business community, people worry about the proposals hamstringing Colorado’s competitiveness with other states, Colorado Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Loren Furman said Tuesday. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026 All three Eastern Conference teams are vying in what has become a wide-open race, with injuries hamstringing several teams. — Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 The team has had trouble finding traction this season, with early injuries and the six-game suspension of wide receiver Rashee Rice hamstringing their offensive efforts. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025 Trump’s action will feed America’s destructive use of oil, while hamstringing us in the green tech race against Chinese and other foreign carmakers. — Clara McMichael, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstringing

Verb

The attacks and the air raid alerts that accompany them have severely disrupted life in the city, forcing millions to constantly seek shelter and paralyzing the capital’s businesses and transport networks.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
Medications used in lethal injections usually act in three steps -- first sedating the individual, then paralyzing them, before ending important bodily functions necessary for life.

— Allen Chang, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of paralyzing

Verb

The flip side is that the state suffers crippling deficits when the market tanks, as during the Global Financial Crisis.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
In the days after the ceasefire broke down, the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi shipping, and launched attacks crippling Saudi Arabia’s oil export infrastructure.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of crippling

Verb

Fighting escalated late last month, undermining the November 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year war.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Private equity firms also sometimes own both physician staffing firms and Independent Dispute Resolution entities, creating a conflict of interest and undermining the law's fairness.

— Anna Schecter, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of undermining

Verb

While critics claim the court cases are politically motivated and aimed at weakening the opposition, the government insists the country’s judiciary is independent and free from political influence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Those tasks had often depended on personal relationships rather than formal job requirements, and the researchers found those ties were weakening.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of weakening

Verb

The next day, Ukrainian drones hit the company's major data center in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, disabling part of the facility, Yandex said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
The next day, Ukrainian drones hit the company’s major data center in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, disabling part of the facilty, Yandex said.

— Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of disabling

Verb

Fragments of the powerhouse author’s path to her incapacitating accident then unfold through Lowen’s POV, starting with Verity’s steamy first encounter with Jeremy.

— Fawnia Soo Hoo, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026
Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers on board seized control of the plane.

— Michael Sinkewicz , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of incapacitating

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“Hamstringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstringing. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hamstringing

verb

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