as in bind
something that physically prevents free movement
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in binds
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hampers
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
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
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 handcuffs
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Officers caught up to the suspect, who allegedly resisted arrest but was eventually placed in handcuffs.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The suspect denied his involvement in the attack as he was led from the 19th Precinct station house in handcuffs and placed in a waiting unmarked police vehicle.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
Both were placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a car while agents searched their home and took items listed in the search warrant.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Balat and Kayumi appeared in handcuffs and shackles at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in downtown Manhattan on Monday.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
If interest rates pivot, the county’s investments could once again become handcuffs.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026
During her first court appearance on Friday in Cleveland Municipal Court, she was not asked about the tragedy that has landed her in handcuffs, shocked her hometown and drawn national attention.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
The 57-year-old was dressed in an orange and white prison uniform with handcuffs and chains on her wrists.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
At the crash site, some of the rescuers find Morrow, who holds them at gunpoint and handcuffs them together in the lab.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
They were placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a car while FBI agents searched their home and took items such as computers, cell phones and some paper documents, according to the newspaper.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Officers caught up to the suspect, who allegedly resisted arrest but was eventually placed in handcuffs.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The suspect denied his involvement in the attack as he was led from the 19th Precinct station house in handcuffs and placed in a waiting unmarked police vehicle.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
Both were placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a car while agents searched their home and took items listed in the search warrant.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Balat and Kayumi appeared in handcuffs and shackles at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in downtown Manhattan on Monday.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
If interest rates pivot, the county’s investments could once again become handcuffs.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026
During her first court appearance on Friday in Cleveland Municipal Court, she was not asked about the tragedy that has landed her in handcuffs, shocked her hometown and drawn national attention.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
The 57-year-old was dressed in an orange and white prison uniform with handcuffs and chains on her wrists.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.
—Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
At the crash site, some of the rescuers find Morrow, who holds them at gunpoint and handcuffs them together in the lab.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffs
Noun
-
California operates under a jungle primary system, meaning Calvert and Kim could both advance to the general election, which could put the House Republican campaign arm in a bind.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
That frustration of that false start was nothing compared to the bind that lay in store.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Human rights groups warned at the time that the policy brought Kuwait closer to the kafala, or sponsorship system, that binds a migrant worker’s residency to their employer, which is still in use across the region.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
But Lucero said the Minnesota Human Rights Act binds all ride-share companies, including Uber.—
Steve Karnowski,
Twin Cities,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To address this, Ivo uses a multi-step pipeline that chains together more than 400 model calls for each contract review.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Tokyo Central is owned by Japanese company Pan Pacific Retail Management, which also runs the grocery chains Gelson’s and Don Quijote.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Afterward, Denver7 heard from Douglas County residents, including a Parker woman who feels the move hinders productive conversations around local issues and is merely a way for the commissioners to dodge criticism and accountability.—
thedenverchannel.com,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023, which hinders his ability to communicate.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Food and drink Though many larger chain hotels often defer to European cuisine to be indicative of high culture, SEA wisely does the opposite.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
This includes key chokepoints like the Miyako Strait, Tokara Strait, and the Okinawa island chain.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The big story India rarely ties its foreign policy to a single partner or bloc.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The deal ties Pipkins to the Chargers for his eighth and ninth seasons in the NFL.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The weir prohibits the flow of saltwater into the lagoon and impedes the draining of sediment from the lagoon into the ocean.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This gross oversight, which is largely due to a lack of financial backing, impedes reproductive health for everyone.—
Kenneth H. Mayer,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
