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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Recent Examples of hamstringing
The current lack of talent in these industries is hamstringing organization success.
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Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
The defense had complained restrictions on computer use at MDC-Brooklyn were hamstringing the music mogul's ability to assist his attorneys.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024
Ultimately, that could mean hamstringing tech companies’ efforts to reduce hateful or false content on their platforms.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
These impending realities presage unimagined new social welfare burdens for a no longer dazzling Chinese economy and may end up hamstringing the funding for Beijing’s international ambitions.
—Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024
Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
The defense had complained restrictions on computer use at MDC-Brooklyn were hamstringing the music mogul's ability to assist his attorneys.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024
Ultimately, that could mean hamstringing tech companies’ efforts to reduce hateful or false content on their platforms.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
These impending realities presage unimagined new social welfare burdens for a no longer dazzling Chinese economy and may end up hamstringing the funding for Beijing’s international ambitions.
—Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hamstringing
Verb
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But soon, Salinas found herself under a monthslong investigation, trying to fight off paralyzing depression while processing her grief and caring for her other children.Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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Yoon said the opposition politicians who control parliament are paralyzing the government and subverting democracy, accusing them of aligning with North Korea.Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Such flexibility offers these institutions a way to work with populists without undermining their broader missions.Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
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Those range from influencing who sits on powerful advisory boards to undermining public confidence in vaccines from the bully pulpit.Caitlin Owens, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Instead of weakening, the civic movement gathered speed.Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2024
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The technical picture is weakening The stock's behavior is weak, as shown in the chart below.John S. Tobey, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Included in the bipartisan plan to avert a government shutdown is a provision extending the authority of the Homeland Security and Justice departments to continue tracking and disabling unmanned aircraft that are deemed credible threats, pushing the deadline from December 20 to March 14.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
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The combination of the pain and the pulsating eye was disabling.Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hamstringing
Cite this Entry
“Hamstringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hamstringing. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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