Hobbling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈhä-bəl/ hob·ble

Meaning & Definition of Hobbling

Hobbling (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

Hobbling (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: clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing, handicapping, hindering, hog-tying, holding back, holding up, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, obstructing, shackling, short-circuiting, stymieing, trammeling, tying up, cramping one's style, giving a hard time
    related: balking, checking, constraining, curbing, reining, restraining, binding, chaining, haltering, leashing, tethering, tying, arresting, braking, delaying, retaining, retarding, barricading, blockading, blocking, roadblocking, bogging (down), miring, choking, smothering, stifling, strangling, suffocating, baffling, foiling, frustrating, stumping, thwarting, derailing, disrupting, sabotaging, muzzling, repressing, suppressing, confining, hedging (in), hemming (in)
    opposite: aiding, assisting, facilitating, helping
    near: clearing, making way, opening, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping, freeing, liberating, releasing, untying, loosening, smoothing, encouraging, furthering, promoting

  2. to walk while favoring one leg

    "I hobbled home with a twisted ankle"

    similar: halting, limping
    related: hitching, blundering, faltering, floundering, lurching, shambling, shuffling, staggering, stumbling, teetering, tottering, wavering, wobbling, doddering
    opposite: striding
    near: breezing, gliding, sailing

Related Entry: Hobble (verb)

Hobble is a different word from Hobbling. The synonyms below are for hobble, not for hobbling.

  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 Hobbling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hobbling:

clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing, handicapping, hindering, hog-tying, holding back, holding up, impeding, inhibiting, interfering (with), manacling, obstructing, shackling, short-circuiting, stymieing, trammeling, tying up, halting, limping, cramping one's style, giving a hard time

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hobbling

Words with the opposite meaning of Hobbling:

aiding, assisting, facilitating, helping, striding

Related Words for Hobbling

balking, checking, constraining, curbing, reining, restraining, binding, chaining, haltering, leashing, tethering, tying, arresting, braking, delaying, retaining, retarding, barricading, blockading, blocking, roadblocking, bogging (down), miring, choking, smothering, stifling, strangling, suffocating, baffling, foiling

Near Antonyms of Hobbling

clearing, making way, opening, unclogging, unplugging, unstopping, freeing, liberating, releasing, untying, loosening, smoothing, encouraging, furthering, promoting, breezing, gliding, sailing

Word Forms of Hobbling

Inflections: hobbled, hobbles

Derived words: hobbler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hobbling

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

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Hobbling

What does "Hobbling" mean?

"Hobbling" means to move along unsteadily or with difficulty; especially, to limp along. As a verb, it is defined as: to move along unsteadily or with difficulty; especially, to limp along. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hobbling"?

Other words for "Hobbling" include clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing and handicapping. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hobbling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hobbling"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hobbling". Common alternatives include clogging, cramping, embarrassing, encumbering, fettering, hampering, handcuffing, handicapping, hindering and hog-tying.

What is the opposite of "Hobbling"?

Antonyms of "Hobbling" include aiding, assisting, facilitating, helping and striding. Near antonyms include clearing, making way, opening and unclogging.

How do you use "Hobbling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hobbling" 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 "Hobbling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hobbling" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Hobbling"?

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

What is the origin of the word "Hobbling"?

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