hobble

[ hob-uhl ]

/ ˈhɒb əl /

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See synonyms for: hobble / hobbled / hobbling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), hob·bled, hob·bling.

to walk lamely; limp.

to proceed irregularly and haltingly: His verses hobble with their faulty meters.

verb (used with object), hob·bled, hob·bling.

to cause to limp: His tight shoes hobbled him.

to fasten together the legs of (a horse, mule, etc.) by short lengths of rope to prevent free motion.

to impede; hamper the progress of.

noun

an act of hobbling; an uneven, halting gait; a limp.

a rope, strap, etc., used to hobble an animal.

hobbles, a leg harness for controlling the gait of a pacer.

Archaic. an awkward or difficult situation.

OTHER WORDS FOR hobble

5 hinder, restrict, frustrate, cramp.

See synonyms for hobble on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR hobble

5 aid, assist, benefit.

See antonyms for hobble on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of hobble

1300–50; Middle English hobelen, apparently akin to hob protuberance, uneven ground, and to Dutch hobbelen,German hoppeln to jolt

OTHER WORDS FROM hobble

hobbler, nounun·hob·bled, adjectiveun·hob·bling, adjective

Words nearby hobble

Hobbesian, Hobbes, Thomas, Hobbism, hobbit, hobbits, hobble, hobblebush, hobbledehoy, hobble skirt, Hobbs, hobby

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hobble in a sentence

Reduced global availability could send prices for these nutrients higher and financially hobble farm belts across a slew of countries.
How Sanctions on Russia Will Hurt—and Help—the World's Economies|Simon Constable|March 7, 2022|Time
This, more than any one scandal, is likely to hobble the party for the next few election cycles.
Paging Rose Mary Woods: Obama’s Unbelievable Missing IRS Emails|James Poulos|June 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A few days before, she had managed to stand and hobble around the ward.
Surviving Syria’s Incendiary Bomb Attacks|Paul Adrian Raymond|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Hardly able to hobble into the room on his bruised and engorged feet, he sported black eyes.
Despite Pledge, Syrian Rebels Continue to Torture|Jamie Dettmer|August 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Just the distraction that this kind of case creates can hobble even the most successful, well-run company.
Antitrust Suit Could Bring Down Google|Dan Lyons|April 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
When the flames began to bite on one side he could hobble around the post to the opposite side.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter
A little longer let me live, I pray—A little longer hobble round thy door.
Stories about Animals: with Pictures to Match|Francis C. Woodworth
You get us into a precious hobble through sheer wanton foolery, and then you expect me to like it.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng
You know about as much of a motor boat as a pig knows of the hobble skirt.
Boy Scouts in the Philippines|G. Harvey Ralphson
Our people when they are in a hobble always like to employ him, though he is somewhat dear.
The Romany Rye|George Borrow

British Dictionary definitions for hobble

hobble

/ (ˈhɒbəl) /

verb

(intr) to walk with a lame awkward movement

(tr) to fetter the legs of (a horse) in order to restrict movement

to progress unevenly or with difficulty

(tr) to hamper or restrict (the actions or scope of a person, organization, etc)

noun

a strap, rope, etc, used to hobble a horse

a limping gait

British dialect a difficult or embarrassing situation

a castrated ferret

Also (for senses 2, 5): hopple

Derived forms of hobble

hobbler, noun

Word Origin for hobble

C14: probably from Low German; compare Flemish hoppelen, Middle Dutch hobbelen to stammer

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hobble

OTHER WORDS FOR hobble

OPPOSITES FOR hobble

Origin of hobble

OTHER WORDS FROM hobble

Words nearby hobble

Words related to hobble

How to use hobble in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hobble

Derived forms of hobble

Word Origin for hobble