Hobbles — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈhä-bəl/ hob·ble

Meaning & Definition of Hobbles

Hobbles (verb)

  1. to move along unsteadily or with difficulty; especially, to limp along
  2. to cause to limp, disable
  3. to fasten together the legs of (an animal, such as a horse) to prevent straying, fetter

Hobbles (noun)

  1. a hobbling movement
  2. an awkward situation
  3. something used to hobble an animal

Hobbles (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to create difficulty for the work or activity of

    "we were hobbled by the snowstorm from getting out to do some Christmas shopping"

    similar: clogs, cramps, embarrasses, encumbers, fetters, hampers, handcuffs, handicaps, hinders, hog-ties, holds back, holds up, impedes, inhibits, interferes (with), manacles, obstructs, shackles, short-circuits, stymies, ties up, trammels, cramps one's style, gives a hard time
    related: balks, checks, constrains, curbs, reins, restrains, binds, chains, halters, leashes, tethers, ties, arrests, brakes, delays, retains, retards, barricades, blockades, blocks, roadblocks, bogs (down), mires, chokes, smothers, stifles, strangles, suffocates, baffles, foils, frustrates, stumps, thwarts, derails, disrupts, sabotages, muzzles, represses, suppresses, confines, hedges (in), hems (in)
    opposite: aids, assists, facilitates, helps
    near: clears, makes way, opens, unclogs, unplugs, unstops, frees, liberates, releases, unties, loosens, smooths, encourages, furthers, promotes

  2. to walk while favoring one leg

    "I hobbled home with a twisted ankle"

    similar: halts, limps
    related: hitches, blunders, falters, flounders, lurches, shambles, shuffles, staggers, stumbles, teeters, totters, wavers, wobbles, dodders
    opposite: strides
    near: breezes, glides, sails

Hobbles (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in shackles, fetters

    similar: fetters, manacles, shackles, blocks, chains, clogs, crimps, deterrents, drags, embarrassments, encumbrances, handicaps, hindrances, hurdles, impediments, inhibitions, interferences, lets, obstacles, obstructions, roadblocks, stops, stumbling blocks, trammels, constraints, curbs, restraints, snags, bars, pales, palings, buffers, bulwarks, bumpers, cushions, dams, fenders, pads, ramparts, barricades, barriers, fences, hedges, walls
    opposite: doors, doorways, entrances, entranceways, entries, entryways, gates, portals, breaks, gaps, passes

Related Entry: Hobble (verb)

Hobble is a different word from Hobbles. The synonyms below are for hobble, not for hobbles.

  1. to create difficulty for the work or activity of

    "we were hobbled by the snowstorm from getting out to do some Christmas shopping"

    similar: clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel, cramp one's style, give a hard time
    related: balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain, bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie, arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard, barricade, block, blockade, roadblock, bog (down), mire, choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate, baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart, derail, disrupt, sabotage, muzzle, repress, suppress, confine, hedge (in), hem (in)
    opposite: aid, assist, facilitate, help
    near: clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop, free, liberate, release, untie, loosen, smooth, encourage, further, promote

  2. to walk while favoring one leg

    "I hobbled home with a twisted ankle"

    similar: halt, limp
    related: hitch, blunder, falter, flounder, lurch, shamble, shuffle, stagger, stumble, teeter, totter, waver, wobble, dodder
    opposite: stride
    near: breeze, glide, sail

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hobbles

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hobbles:

clogs, cramps, embarrasses, encumbers, fetters, hampers, handcuffs, handicaps, hinders, hog-ties, holds back, holds up, impedes, inhibits, interferes (with), manacles, obstructs, shackles, short-circuits, stymies, ties up, trammels, halts, limps, cramps one's style, gives a hard time, blocks, chains, crimps, deterrents, drags, embarrassments, encumbrances, hindrances, hurdles, impediments, inhibitions, interferences, lets, obstacles

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hobbles

Words with the opposite meaning of Hobbles:

aids, assists, facilitates, helps, strides, doors, doorways, entrances, entranceways, entries, entryways, gates, portals, breaks, gaps, passes

Related Words for Hobbles

balks, checks, constrains, reins, restrains, binds, halters, leashes, tethers, ties, arrests, brakes, delays, retains, retards, blockades, bogs (down), mires, chokes, smothers, stifles, strangles, suffocates, baffles, foils, frustrates, stumps, thwarts, derails, disrupts

Near Antonyms of Hobbles

clears, makes way, opens, unclogs, unplugs, unstops, frees, liberates, releases, unties, loosens, smooths, encourages, furthers, promotes, breezes, glides, sails

Word Forms of Hobbles

Inflections: hobbled, hobbling

Derived words: hobbler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hobbles

Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Hobbles

What does "Hobbles" mean?

"Hobbles" means to move along unsteadily or with difficulty; especially, to limp along. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to move along unsteadily or with difficulty; especially, to limp along. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hobbles"?

Other words for "Hobbles" include clogs, cramps, embarrasses, encumbers, fetters, hampers, handcuffs and handicaps. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hobbles" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hobbles"?

There are 115 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hobbles". Common alternatives include clogs, cramps, embarrasses, encumbers, fetters, hampers, handcuffs, handicaps, hinders and hog-ties.

What is the opposite of "Hobbles"?

Antonyms of "Hobbles" include aids, assists, facilitates, helps, strides, doors, doorways and entrances. Near antonyms include clears, makes way, opens and unclogs.

How do you use "Hobbles" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hobbles" in a sentence: "we were hobbled by the snowstorm from getting out to do some Christmas shopping"; "I hobbled home with a twisted ankle".

Is "Hobbles" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hobbles" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hobbles"?

"Hobbles" is pronounced /ˈhä-bəl/ and divided into syllables as hob·ble.

What is the origin of the word "Hobbles"?

"Hobbles" comes from Middle English hoblen; akin to Middle Dutch hobbelen to turn, roll. First known use: 14th centuryi.