1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that's a pretty lame way to treat someone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
the amenities at this hotel are lame; there's not even free Wi-Fi in the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to
we were afraid that the horse would be lamed by its horrible fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 lame
Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
—Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
To put it in a different way, my life is pretty lame [laughs].
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2023
Well, this is so lame, but I'm almost finished watching The Sopranos for the very first time ever.
—Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 12 Oct. 2022
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2024
Adjective
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
—Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
—Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
To put it in a different way, my life is pretty lame [laughs].
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2023
Well, this is so lame, but I'm almost finished watching The Sopranos for the very first time ever.
—Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 12 Oct. 2022
Verb
And unlike other bread lames that don’t conceal the razor, this one opens and closes for maximum safety.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lame
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, nearly one-third of election offices don’t have any full-time staff, wages are pitiful, and turnover rates grew from 28 percent in 2004—already high—to nearly 39 percent in 2022.Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2024
-
The plight of Zimbabwe, moreover, remains pitiful, a once prosperous country not only reduced to economic ruin but also trapped in a culture of corruption and violence that Mugabe fostered since gaining power in 1980 and that is now deeply embedded among the ruling elite.Martin Meredith, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
Adjective
-
And there's a lengthy list of unacceptable offenses that can get people ejected or even banned from venues.Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
-
Zelenskyy expressed concern over potential pressure on Ukraine should Donald Trump win the presidency, stating that any attempt to force it to surrender its territories would be unacceptable.Katya Soldak, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
By contrast, solar panels, wind turbines, and appliances like induction stoves only get better — more efficient and cheaper — with time.Matt Simon / Grist, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
-
The standard plan with ads costs $6.99/month, less than half the cost of the regular standard plan ($15.49/month), and much cheaper than the top-tier premium plan ($22.99/month).Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Trump, for one thing, had a favorable set of issues behind him and the Republican Party: Biden had seen poor favorability and approval ratings throughout his term in office, despite scoring several legislative wins, including a bipartisan infrastructure deal that had previously eluded Trump.Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
-
Basically that poor enforcement had bred serious disrespect for the law, or at least a misunderstanding of it.Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
With Smith incapacitated, Affrunti says Reeves hid in the living room.Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
-
In 1980, most voters cast ballots in person with six exceptions for people who were incapacitated or absent on Election Day.Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 31 July 2024
Adjective
-
Carbon emissions would increase because there is a dearth of renewables and the world would have to burn dirtier fossil fuels from non-Western entities.Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Yes, but: Charlie Bailey, a former Fulton County gang prosecutor who ran for lieutenant governor as a Democrat in 2022, told Axios that the RICO law was created to catch leaders of criminal organizations who weren't doing the dirty work.Kristal Dixon, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Our reporting has found that the claims of noncitizens on the voter rolls are likely inflated and, in some cases, wrong.ProPublica, ProPublica, 5 Nov. 2024
-
While his mom and dad knew something was wrong, doctors said Elijah was fine — then he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near lame
Cite this Entry
“Lame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lame. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share