hand·cuff
ˈhan(d)-ˌkəf 
: a metal fastening that can be locked around a wrist and is usually connected by a chain or bar with another such fastening
—usually used in plural
handcuffed; handcuffing; handcuffs
2
: to hold in check : make ineffective or powerless
handcuffed by strict regulations
Synonyms
Examples of handcuff in a Sentence
Noun
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Verb
wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father
the fear that the new mandatory, standardized tests will handcuff the state's teachers, who will have to specifically tailor their lesson plans for the test
Recent Examples on the Web
Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
He was swiftly escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs following the proceeding to begin serving his sentence, The Associated Press reported.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 10 Apr. 2024
Another officer arrives to help Sinnott handcuff Frankel, who is bleeding from his nose.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
He’s led in handcuffs to a defendants’ cage in front of a judge for yet another hearing about his pretrial detention on espionage charges.
—Emma Burrows, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Oswald’s role was to attempt to get Marshall in handcuffs.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
After Brock was in handcuffs, the deputy put him into the back seat of his cruiser.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
McAlpin was brought into the courtroom of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, offering a nod to his family members in attendance.
—Tom Junod, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
Additional officers responded to the scene and placed Barnes in handcuffs.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Steve Leblanc, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
Weinstein was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
One page says that on Aug. 26, 2002, Smith was pulled over for no reason, handcuffed and stuffed in the back of her 1995 Geo Tracker.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
The deputy then approached Thompson lying in the roadway and handcuffed him before dragging him off the interstate to begin CPR, the lawsuit says.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
Jason was handcuffed by the police at the time and led back into the house.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Rankine, who arrived after Ellis was already handcuffed face-down, knelt on his upper back.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
Floyd, a Black man, was handcuffed prone on the street May 25, 2020, as Chauvin, who is white, knelt on his neck for 9½ minutes.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Even though he was handcuffed, Caillier overpowered a deputy and a security officer, fleeing the hospital in the dark of night in a black-and-white striped jumpsuit and handcuffs in the front of his body, officials said.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Noun
Tied to one end were thick metal chains linked to a set of handcuffs.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
He was swiftly escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs following the proceeding to begin serving his sentence, The Associated Press reported.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 10 Apr. 2024
Another officer arrives to help Sinnott handcuff Frankel, who is bleeding from his nose.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
He’s led in handcuffs to a defendants’ cage in front of a judge for yet another hearing about his pretrial detention on espionage charges.
—Emma Burrows, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Oswald’s role was to attempt to get Marshall in handcuffs.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
After Brock was in handcuffs, the deputy put him into the back seat of his cruiser.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
McAlpin was brought into the courtroom of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, offering a nod to his family members in attendance.
—Tom Junod, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
Additional officers responded to the scene and placed Barnes in handcuffs.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
At least 17 people were detained, handcuffed with zip ties and loaded into a police transport van.
—Steve Leblanc, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
Weinstein was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
One page says that on Aug. 26, 2002, Smith was pulled over for no reason, handcuffed and stuffed in the back of her 1995 Geo Tracker.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024
The deputy then approached Thompson lying in the roadway and handcuffed him before dragging him off the interstate to begin CPR, the lawsuit says.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024
Jason was handcuffed by the police at the time and led back into the house.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Rankine, who arrived after Ellis was already handcuffed face-down, knelt on his upper back.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024
Floyd, a Black man, was handcuffed prone on the street May 25, 2020, as Chauvin, who is white, knelt on his neck for 9½ minutes.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Even though he was handcuffed, Caillier overpowered a deputy and a security officer, fleeing the hospital in the dark of night in a black-and-white striped jumpsuit and handcuffs in the front of his body, officials said.
—Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'handcuff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near handcuff
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handcuff. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
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