hobbleverb
uk/ˈhɒb.əl/us/ˈhɑː.bəl/hobble verb (WALK)
[ I usually + adv/prep ] to walk in an awkward way, usually because the feet or legs are injured:
The last time I saw Rachel she was hobbling around with a stick.
Some of the runners could only manage to hobble over the finishing line.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Moving unsteadily or with difficulty
- blunder
- bumble
- doddery
- falter
- galumphing
- lollop
- lumber
- lurch
- reel
- schlep
- shamble
- shuffle
- slog
- squeeze
- stagger
- stumble
- toil
- totter
- trip (sb) up
- waddle
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hobble verb (LIMIT)
[ T ] to limit something or control the freedom of someone:
A long list of amendments have hobbled the new legislation.
[ T ] literary If you hobble an animal, especially a horse, you tie two of its legs together so that it cannot run away.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Limiting and restricting
- box sb in
- chain
- circumscribe
- clamp down on sth
- clampdown
- curb
- curtail
- damage limitation
- debilitate
- delimit
- hamstring
- hedge
- infringe
- muzzle
- non-proliferation
- qualification
- ration
- rationing
- restrain
- stabilizer
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Fastening and tying