handicapping

verb

present participle of handicap
as in hampering
to create difficulty for the work or activity of the baseball player's small size did not handicap him in the least

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of handicapping Paul stressed that James wasn’t currently handicapping any teams after James and the Lakers mutually parted aways following eight seasons. — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Who else was astute enough to recognize the potential of a Sun Devil when handicapping hypothetical mascot fights? — Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 2 June 2026 Because no one knows with clarity how things will proceed from here, handicapping the market becomes an exercise in watching for extreme conditions to develop that price in enough potential economic disruption to generate a cushion against further downside surprises. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handicapping
  1. hampering
  2. impeding
  3. hindering
  4. embarrassing
  5. obstructing
Verb
  • Birds visiting the feeder can get the goo on their wings, hampering their ability to fly and possibly leading to their untimely deaths.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Rescuers will use an extrication device and a helicopter, Fathur said, adding that there were no reports of people missing and no challenges hampering the search.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of hampering
Verb
  • The Supreme Court has been a fitful friend to Trump in his second term, alternately enabling and impeding him.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Cornstarch can create issues like clogging sprayers, impeding root growth, or interfering with leaf function.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of impeding
Verb
  • More than 1,300 people are missing, and a lack of connectivity, power and resources are hindering rescue efforts.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The charges are hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor, and disrupting a meeting or procession, a Class B misdemeanor.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of hindering
Verb
  • The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.
    — Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Since then, Hochman has been slammed for playing politics, embarrassing his office and even backing down for no reason other than the pressure was too intense.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Verb
  • In July, Michaels was diagnosed with a complicated obstructing kidney stone, which required immediate surgery and the placement of a ureteral stent.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
  • But Seminole’s Special Magistrate Sherry Sutphen chastised Moncrief, a resident of The Springs neighborhood, for likely damaging the river’s ecology behind his home and obstructing its natural flow.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of obstructing

Browse Nearby Words

handicappers
handicapping
handicaps
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Handicapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handicapping. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of conscientious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All