Synonyms

hamstrung

American

[ham-struhng] / ˈhæmˌstrʌŋ /

adjective

having been made powerless or useless; thwarted.

The candidates also face a housing market crisis, subway strikes, and a hamstrung government.
having had the hamstring tendon cut.

She fell like a hamstrung deer.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of hamstring.

Etymology

Origin of hamstrung

ham ¹ ( def. ) + strung ( def. )

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.

And whereas most skiers would be hamstrung by a fear of injury that could endanger their career, Vonn is an established icon willing to accept risks others might not.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Whoever comes in, though, will be hamstrung by the same issues Wane faced.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

Those kinds of worries hamstrung President Joe Biden.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Yet its efforts have been hamstrung by tariffs and other issues.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

We are hamstrung every minute of every day, because we must always consider whether we are gleaning too much or too little.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023