LAME Synonyms: 322 Similar and Opposite Words

lame 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlām

Definition of lame

as in pitiful

arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust that's a pretty lame way to treat someone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in unacceptable

falling short of a standard the amenities at this hotel are lame; there's not even free Wi-Fi in the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lame

2 of 2

verb

as in to cripple

to cause severe or permanent injury to we were afraid that the horse would be lamed by its horrible fall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 lame

Adjective

As Trump slides toward lame-duck status, cleavages within the group and between it and traditional progressives are becoming more salient. — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026 The next big issue for me was that Axl shimmied from side to side with an unusual snakelike move that struck me as effeminate and lame. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026 The nearly unprecedented circumstances tied Suzuki to Minasian, who was a lame-duck GM at the time. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Kanal has borne the brunt of these rifts and was kept in financial limbo during those nearly two lame-duck years. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lame

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lame

Adjective

Herbert's six interceptions is only surpassed by Drake Maye's pitiful start to the season.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.

— Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026

Definition of pitiful

Adjective

With a team that has a margin of error as small as the Dolphins, these penalties are unacceptable.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Likewise, the underlying crisis of commercially unacceptable risk in the Strait isn’t anywhere close to being resolved.

— David Faris, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of unacceptable

Verb

Block that passage, the thinking went, and China’s economy would be crippled.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
In the days after the ceasefire broke down, the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi shipping, and launched attacks crippling Saudi Arabia’s oil export infrastructure.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of cripple

Adjective

Amazon’s two cheaper models also come in child-friendly versions tailored to whether your child is between three and five, or six and 12.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
The audience is full of young people — the revival has continued the original production’s commitment to offering cheap day-of tickets — many of whom have strong connections to the material.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of cheap

Verb

Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh (played by Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer hired to finish the bestselling book series of renowned author Verity Crawford after an accident leaves her incapacitated.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers on board seized control of the plane.

— Michael Sinkewicz , Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of incapacitate

Adjective

At first the owner stared at him blankly, then flashed a look of distaste, as if a dirty rodent had brushed his foot.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Stephens and several teammates then appeared to taunt the Oregon players and celebrate the dirty play rather than show concern for a fellow college athlete who was lying motionless on the field.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of dirty

Adjective

British police acknowledged applying for the warrants under the wrong statutory provision, the judge said while stipulating that the misconduct investigation against the king's brother could continue.

— Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Doctors in Tennessee and Republican state senators called for the state to pause executions, because the chances of one going catastrophically wrong were so high.

— Maya Foa, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026