was severely hampered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was severely hampered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where progress or effectiveness is significantly hindered or obstructed. Example: "The project was severely hampered by unexpected budget cuts, leading to delays in the timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

His work on the biography was severely hampered by ill health.

The Guardian

Musing here, however, was severely hampered by the aforesaid bus drivers, who were as driven as ever (it's about competition).

The Guardian - Travel

Ventura never complained last year, but it was obvious to the Mets that he was severely hampered by his shoulder.

The New York Times - Sports

The suppression of the fires in the mine in the early stages was "severely hampered" by the limited water supply and the lack of sprinklers.

The Guardian

"The investigation was severely hampered by intelligence agencies and other government officials," the reports said, "which impeded an unfettered search for the truth".

The New York Times

Mario Van Peebles, director of the hit "New Jack City," tried to capture the swagger of the Black Panthers in "Panther" but was severely hampered by his budget.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

The magazine also reported that the researchers could not get hold of enough tissue for their work and this was severely hampering research.

The Guardian

Coalmining operations in the Australian state were severely hampered.

The Economist

Until her movements were severely hampered by Parkinson's disease, she was an intrepid world traveler.

The New York Times

Cortés said the "results were severely hampered by data limitations" and would produce "ineffective management advice".

The Guardian

Since that time, American Muslims have been severely hampered in their charitable giving.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intensity of the hindrance. If the impact was less than severe, alternatives like "was moderately affected" might be more accurate.

Common error

While grammatically sound, relying too heavily on passive constructions like "was severely hampered" can make your writing sound weak. Whenever possible, rephrase to use an active voice to make your writing more dynamic and engaging. For instance, instead of "The investigation was severely hampered by lack of resources," try "Lack of resources severely hampered the investigation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was severely hampered" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes a state where something or someone is significantly hindered or restricted in its progress or ability. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and acceptable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

45%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was severely hampered" is a grammatically correct and acceptable way to express that something experienced significant obstruction or hindrance. Ludwig AI validates this, and examples show its presence across news, scientific, and general knowledge domains. Though its register leans towards neutral to formal, varying usage contexts influence exact meaning. When using the phrase, make sure to specify what led to the obstruction. Alternatives such as "was significantly hindered" or "was greatly impeded" may be used, depending on desired nuances. While correct, overuse of passive voice should be avoided for stronger writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was significantly hindered

Replaces "severely hampered" with "significantly hindered", altering the intensity slightly.

was greatly impeded

Substitutes "severely hampered" with "greatly impeded", emphasizing the obstruction.

was seriously impaired

Replaces "severely hampered" with "seriously impaired", focusing on the diminished functionality.

was substantially restricted

Replaces "severely hampered" with "substantially restricted", indicating a limitation in scope or movement.

was critically undermined

Substitutes "severely hampered" with "critically undermined", suggesting a weakening or erosion of effectiveness.

faced major obstacles

Shifts from a passive to an active construction, highlighting the presence of significant barriers.

met with considerable difficulty

Rephrases the idea to emphasize the experience of encountering substantial challenges.

encountered significant setbacks

Changes the perspective to focus on the occurrence of notable delays or reversals.

suffered major limitations

Focuses on the presence of restrictions rather than the act of hindering.

was badly affected

Offers a more general description of negative impact, rather than specifically highlighting obstruction.

FAQs

What does "was severely hampered" mean?

The phrase "was severely hampered" means that something experienced significant difficulties, obstacles, or limitations that greatly hindered its progress or effectiveness.

What can I say instead of "was severely hampered"?

You can use alternatives like "was significantly hindered", "was greatly impeded", or "faced major obstacles" depending on the specific context.

How to use "was severely hampered" in a sentence?

Use "was severely hampered" to describe situations where progress, development, or functionality is significantly restricted or obstructed. For example, "The project was severely hampered by unexpected budget cuts."

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was severely hampered"?

While "was severely hampered" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The project was severely hampered by the storm", you could say "The storm severely hampered the project".