hamstring
noun
(in humans and other primates) any of the tendons that bound the ham of the knee.
had hamstrung
-
past perfectof hamstring.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote that the outage raised concerns that personnel cuts had hamstrung the Fed’s maintenance of the NIC system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
“By successfully restructuring an onerous 100% silver royalty that had hamstrung the project for 20 years, Polymetals has unlocked the economic value of its high-grade silver ore,” analyst Peter Kormendy says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
Under the accord, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of United Nations sanctions that had hamstrung its economy.
From Reuters ● Nov. 9, 2021
Rice never complained to me personally, but in press interviews she rejected a central premise: that the mistakes she had made as national security adviser had hamstrung her options as the nation’s chief diplomat.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 25, 2011
Intellectually, he knew it wasn't true, but his emotional needs, coupled with wishful thinking, had hamstrung his intellect.
From But, I Don't Think by Randall Garrett
