hampered

USAGE SUMMARY

"hampered" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to restrict the movement or progress of someone or something. Example sentence: The injured football player was hampered by the pain in his leg.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

El Salvador's preparations for their trip to Spain were, of course, hampered by the war that was devastating the country.

The Guardian - Sport

She won't really be drawn on whether the focus on the Welsh language has hampered Plaid's success in the Valleys ("Certainly the Welsh language has been used as a stick to beat Plaid Cymru with by our opponents, in a very dangerous way, actually, and an irresponsible way. I don't think that's acceptable"), nor on anti-English sentiment within the party.

The Guardian

Attempts to alert the local military post by telephone were hampered by unanswered calls and poor phone networks.

The Guardian

He has better luck on his next argument, which is that the two-line pass rule hampered offence and generally was one of the reasons scores in the days before the lockout were often so low.

The Guardian - Sport

The Telegraph's front page led on health and safety laws that "hampered" the 7/7 rescue attempts.

The Guardian

Attempts to enforce laws against child marriage are hampered by a lack of birth registration: without a birth certificate, girls cannot prove they are too young to marry.

The Guardian

The Conservatives are hampered by a stark lack of support among ethnic minority voters: just 16% of BME voters backed the party in 2010, compared to 68% who supported Labour.

The Guardian

That gives him an edge on Marine Le Pen, whose efforts to reposition the FN as more mainstream and respectable have been hampered by Jean-Marie, the former paratrooper-and-proud of it who ran the party for decades and seems unduly fond of the Holocaust.

The Guardian

The sodomy allegations have already hampered his plans to challenge Abdullah Badawi's ruling National Front coalition.

The Guardian

"I wouldn't say it's hampered our one-day cricket," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Nigeria has typically resisted security cooperation with the west, which analysts say has hampered efforts against the militants, who have killed thousands since 2009.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hampered," be clear about what is doing the hampering. Providing the reason or source of the impediment adds clarity and context to your writing.

Common error

While "hampered" is versatile, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise synonyms like "impeded" or "constrained" might be more appropriate. Ensure the tone matches the context.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hampered" is as a verb, typically in the past participle form, indicating that something has been restricted or impeded. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hampered" is a versatile verb frequently used to describe situations where progress is slowed or made more difficult. Ludwig AI confirms that "hampered" is grammatically correct and usable in written English. With a neutral register, it is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While "hampered" is widely accepted, writers should be mindful of more precise alternatives like "impeded" or "constrained" in formal writing. The numerous examples from Ludwig highlight its consistent application across different domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hindered

Direct synonym, indicating a slowing or obstruction of progress.

impeded

Similar to hindered, suggesting an obstruction that makes progress difficult.

obstructed

Implies a more forceful blocking of progress or movement.

constrained

Suggests being limited or restricted, often by external forces.

restricted

Indicates a limitation placed on something.

curtailed

Suggests a reduction or cutting short of something.

inhibited

Implies a suppression or holding back of something.

slowed down

More informal way to describe reduced speed or progress.

held back

Similar to slowed down, indicating a delaying effect.

stifled

Suggests a suppression or suffocation of progress.

FAQs

How can I use "hampered" in a sentence?

You can use "hampered" to describe something that has been slowed down or made more difficult. For example: "The team's progress was "hampered" by the constant rain."

What are some alternatives to "hampered"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "hindered", "impeded", or "restricted".

Is "hampered" formal or informal?

"Hampered" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal options like "impeded" may be preferable in academic or professional writing.

What is the difference between "hampered" and "prevented"?

"Hampered" suggests a slowing down or making something more difficult, while "prevented" implies that something was completely stopped. For example, "The rain "hampered" our progress" means we moved slower, but "The rain "prevented" our progress" means we couldn't move at all.