Hamstring (Verb)
Meaning 1
Make ineffective or powerless; "The teachers were hamstrung by the overly rigid schedules".
Classification
Verbs of feeling.
Examples
- The lack of funding has hamstrung the research team's ability to continue their project.
- Environmental regulations were hamstrung by lobbying efforts from large corporations.
- Bureaucratic red tape has hamstrung the organization's ability to implement new policies.
- The company's outdated technology has hamstrung their efforts to compete in the modern market.
- The new law hamstrung the city's ability to impose stricter noise ordinances.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Cripple by cutting the hamstring.
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- The escaped prisoner was caught and hamstrung by the ruthless bounty hunters to ensure he wouldn't flee again.
- In medieval times, some forms of punishment involved hamstringing the offender as a means of preventing flight.
- The dictator ordered his soldiers to hamstring any captive enemy soldiers who were trying to flee the battlefield.
- The notorious outlaw was infamous for hamstringing his captured rivals to cripple them and prevent any future challenges.
- During the fierce battle, the warrior's leg was badly wounded and she feared it had been hamstrung by the enemy sword.