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
Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Detained and handcuffed while medics tried to save Christian's life, Courtney sat on the balcony of the $10,000-a-month waterfront apartment as her boyfriend's blood dried on her face, chest, stomach, arms and sweatpants.
—Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Did Christian need a gun pointed at the back of his head while he was handcuffed??
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Lopez and Combs spent more than 12 hours in police custody, with Lopez reportedly being handcuffed to a pole at one point, the New York Post reported.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Police ordered the men to approach with their hands above their heads before they were handcuffed and questioned by officers, according to video from the scene.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The team then forced him to the floor and handcuffed him.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
They’re held in open-air cages, and blindfolded and handcuffed; they can be subjected to physical punishment, humiliation, and abuse.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
An officer grabbed Özer, and the young CEO, now wearing a white polo shirt, was handcuffed, escorted down a short flight of stairs, shuttled into an unmarked white van, and driven into the night.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 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
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
Detained and handcuffed while medics tried to save Christian's life, Courtney sat on the balcony of the $10,000-a-month waterfront apartment as her boyfriend's blood dried on her face, chest, stomach, arms and sweatpants.
—Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Did Christian need a gun pointed at the back of his head while he was handcuffed??
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Lopez and Combs spent more than 12 hours in police custody, with Lopez reportedly being handcuffed to a pole at one point, the New York Post reported.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024
Police ordered the men to approach with their hands above their heads before they were handcuffed and questioned by officers, according to video from the scene.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The team then forced him to the floor and handcuffed him.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
They’re held in open-air cages, and blindfolded and handcuffed; they can be subjected to physical punishment, humiliation, and abuse.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024
An officer grabbed Özer, and the young CEO, now wearing a white polo shirt, was handcuffed, escorted down a short flight of stairs, shuttled into an unmarked white van, and driven into the night.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 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 29 Apr. 2024.
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