hamstring

5 synonyms for hamstring, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Any of the large tendons or muscles at the back of the thigh, behind the knee.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

disable

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

hamstring tendon hammy incapacitate cripple

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Any of the large tendons or muscles at the back of the thigh, behind the knee.

“The sprinter pulled up clutching his hamstring.”

hamstring tendon hammy

2. verb

To severely limit or cripple someone's ability to act.

“Budget cuts have hamstrung the department for years.”

incapacitate cripple disable

How to use hamstring

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pull a hamstring hamstring the effort strain a hamstring

Etymology

From ham ("back of the knee") + string, originally referring literally to cutting the tendon of a horse or animal to disable it — later extended figuratively.

Full origin of hamstring →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hamstring” mean?

The word “hamstring” means any of the large tendons or muscles at the back of the thigh, behind the knee. In plain terms, the muscle/tendon at the back of your thigh, or (as a verb) to cripple someone's ability to act.

How do you pronounce “hamstring”?

“Hamstring” is pronounced HAMST-rihng (/ˈhæmstɹɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “hamstring” in a sentence?

Here is “hamstring” used in a sentence: “The sprinter pulled up clutching his hamstring.”

What part of speech is “hamstring”?

Depending on how it is used, “hamstring” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “hamstring” have?

“Hamstring” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: any of the large tendons or muscles at the back of the thigh, behind the knee.

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disable cripple incapacitate hammy

Nearby words

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