I don't want to be lame; I want to be cool!!
Source: tatoeba (1336)
Lame
Synonyms for "lame" (144 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
Strong matches (43)
Related words (72)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abortive, awkward, bad, batter, bootless.
- Sentence evidence is available for lame, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "lame".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "lame"
Keep "lame" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "lame" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "lame", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "lame" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
More specific
12 entriescrippledebilitatelame argumentlame excuselame justificationlame leglame outfitlame rationalizationlame trendlimping gaitmaimundercut
Collocations
10 entrieslame argumentlame attemptlame designlame ducklame excuselame gaitlame horselame jokelame leglame limb
Inflections
5 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
152 translations across 73 languages.
Abkhaz
4 entries- а́цыркь adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- а́цыркьзаара adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- акәылԥаа́ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- ацыркьыԥа adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Aghwan
1 entries- 𐕄𐔰𐔾𐔰 adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Albanian
1 entries- çalë adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Ancient Greek
2 entries- σκιμβός adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- χωλός adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Arabic
4 entries- أعرج adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- أعرج adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- أَشَلّ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- أَعْرَج adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Aragonese
1 entries- coixo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Armenian
1 entries- կաղ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Aromanian
1 entries- shcljop adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Asturian
1 entries- coxu adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Azerbaijani
1 entries- topal adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Bashkir
2 entries- аҡһаҡ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- сатан adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Belarusian
1 entries- кульга́вы adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Bhojpuri
1 entries- लंगड़ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Bulgarian
1 entries- куц adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Catalan
2 entries- coix adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- ranc adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Chinese Mandarin
4 entries- 瘸 adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- 瘸腿 adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- 跛 adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- 跛足 adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Czech
1 entries- chromý adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Dalmatian
1 entries- zuap adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Danish
1 entries- lam adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Dutch
4 entries- kreupel adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- kreupel adj (moving with difficulty)
- lam adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- mank adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Esperanto
2 entries- kripla adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- lama adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Finnish
4 entries- heikko adj (moving with difficulty)
- ontuva adj (moving with difficulty)
- rampa adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- rampa adj (moving with difficulty)
French
2 entries- boiteuse adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- boiteux adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Friulian
1 entries- çuet adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Galician
2 entries- coxo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- rengo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Georgian
1 entries- კოჭლი adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
German
1 entries- lahm adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Gheg Albanian
1 entries- shkep adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Greek
4 entries- κουτσός adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- κουτσός adj (moving with difficulty)
- χωλός adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- χωλός adj (moving with difficulty)
Hebrew
1 entries- צוֹלֵעַ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Hindi
4 entries- अपंग adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- पंगु adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- लँगड़ा adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- लंग adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Hungarian
3 entries- béna adj (moving with difficulty)
- nyomorék adj (moving with difficulty)
- sánta adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Icelandic
1 entries- lamaður adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Ingrian
1 entries- rampa adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Interlingua
1 entries- claude adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Irish
1 entries- bacach adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Italian
1 entries- zoppo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Japanese
2 entries- 足の不自由な adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- 足の悪い adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Latin
1 entries- claudus adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Literary Chinese
1 entries- 蹇 adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Lithuanian
2 entries- luošas adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- šlubas adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Luxembourgish
1 entries- schlamm adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Macedonian
1 entries- куц adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Manchu
1 entries- ᡩᠣᡥᠣᠯᠣᠨ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Mongolian
1 entries- доголон adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Māori
4 entries- hauā adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- tahakopa adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- tūparaka adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- waehauā adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Neapolitan
1 entries- sciancato adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Occitan
2 entries- garrèl adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- ranc adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Old English
1 entries- lama adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Old Georgian
1 entries- მკელობელი adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Ossetian
1 entries- къуылых adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Persian
1 entries- لنگ adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Plautdietsch
1 entries- lom adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Polish
3 entries- chromy adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- kulawy adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- kulejący adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Pontic Greek
2 entries- κοτσός adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- ξεροπόδαρος adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Portuguese
4 entries- capenga adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- coxo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- manco adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- manco adj (moving with difficulty)
Quechua
4 entries- hank'a adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- magro adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- sucu adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- wist'u adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Romanian
4 entries- handicapat adj (moving with difficulty)
- olog adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- schiopatand adj (moving with difficulty)
- șchiop adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Romansch
1 entries- zop adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Russian
4 entries- искале́ченный adj (moving with difficulty)
- уве́чный adj (moving with difficulty)
- хрома́ющий adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- хромо́й adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Serbo-Croatian
2 entries- hrom adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- хром adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Sicilian
4 entries- acciuncatu adj (moving with difficulty)
- ciancatu adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- ciuncu adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- ciuncu adj (moving with difficulty)
Slovak
1 entries- chromý adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Spanish
4 entries- arrengado adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- cojo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- renco adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- rengo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Swedish
1 entries- lam adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Tausug
1 entries- pilay adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Telugu
1 entries- కుంటి adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Thai
4 entries- กระง่องกระแง่ง adj (moving with difficulty)
- กระย่องกระแย่ง adj (moving with difficulty)
- กะเผลก adj (moving with difficulty)
- กะโผลกกะเผลก adj (moving with difficulty)
Turkish
1 entries- topal adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Udi
1 entries- кӏала adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Ukrainian
1 entries- кульга́вий adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Venetan
4 entries- cionpo adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- soto adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- zhot adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
- çoto adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
West-Frisian
1 entries- mank adj (unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs)
Sample sentences
23 total sentences available.
Now the President is nothing but a lame duck.
Source: tatoeba (241928)
The only thing we can ask of others, is not to guess at how lame we are.
Source: tatoeba (411064)
What kind of lame power is heart, anyways?
Source: tatoeba (588294)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "lame"?
Closest matches include abortive, awkward, bad, batter, bootless.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "lame"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.