hamstrung
Cut off effectiveness
Hamstrung means crippled or rendered ineffective.
The literal sense refers to cutting the hamstring tendons to disable a person or animal.
The figurative sense dominates modern usage: The investigation was hamstrung by lack of funding.
To be hamstrung is to have your capacity for action severely limited, usually by external constraints rather than personal failings.
Slowed or obstructed
- thwartedPrevented from succeeding
- stymiedBlocked from progressing
- obstructedBlocked from proceeding
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
restricted · crippled · paralyzed · hobbled · undermined · sabotaged · weakened · curtailed
Pulled into pieces
- pulledDrew with force
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
- muscleContractile body tissue
- tendonMuscle-to-bone connector
sprained · tightness · cramped · sore · rehabilitation · physiotherapy · stretching · recovery
Out in open
- weakenedMade less capable
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- susceptibleEasily influenced or harmed
disadvantaged · helpless · powerless · unprotected · outmaneuvered · exploitable · cornered · dependent
hindered
Slowed or obstructed
- thwartedPrevented from succeeding
- stymiedBlocked from progressing
- obstructedBlocked from proceeding
constrained · restricted · crippled · paralyzed · hobbled · undermined · sabotaged · weakened · curtailed · blocked
torn
Pulled into pieces
tendon · sprained · tightness · cramped · sore · rehabilitation · physiotherapy · stretching · recovery · limping
exposed
Out in open
- weakenedMade less capable
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
susceptible · disadvantaged · helpless · powerless · unprotected · outmaneuvered · exploitable · cornered · dependent · precarious
- wrongedabused, mistreated, victimized, exploited, oppressed
hamstrungliberated
Released from confinement
unfettered · unhindered · unimpeded · unrestrained · free