1
as in to tie
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
prisons tend to bind convicted criminals for transport
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to thread
to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord
bind the asparagus spears carefully before packing the bunches
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pickle
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with our vacation week fast approaching, and no arrangements for the care of our pets, we were in a serious bind
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in chain
something that physically prevents free movement
the store owner held the would-be burglar in a makeshift bind until the police officers could arrive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 bind
Hannah Critchfield, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
After a decade in her new job, she was effectively fired by a president of the United States, bound and determined to move the arts center in a direction in line with the priorities of his administration.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Austin Meek, New York Times, 15 May 2025
That can leave patients in a bind, forcing them to choose between paying out-of-pocket for care, waiting for care from a therapist who will take their insurance, or sometimes forgoing help altogether.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bind
Verb
The judge emphasized that all Florida police agencies were bound by her ruling and later issued an ongoing injunction.
—Hannah Critchfield, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
After a decade in her new job, she was effectively fired by a president of the United States, bound and determined to move the arts center in a direction in line with the priorities of his administration.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Noun
The shaky quarterback recruiting in the classes after McCarthy explains how Michigan ended up in a bind last season.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 15 May 2025
That can leave patients in a bind, forcing them to choose between paying out-of-pocket for care, waiting for care from a therapist who will take their insurance, or sometimes forgoing help altogether.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bind
Verb
-
Well, as referenced above, the United States was coming out of a nasty recession tied to the crisis in the mortgage market.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
The investment fund tied to the Qatari state has spent billions on the operations and players.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Next to her, someone’s head was bandaged with someone else’s handkerchief and bled through it immediately.—
Jim Shepard,
New Yorker,
8 June 2025
-
One man’s nose and uniform were smeared in dark blood, and his chin was bandaged.—
Joseph Goldstein,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Bake a tray of chicken tenders (store-bought or homemade), set out flour tortillas, and offer a few sauces, pickles, and shredded lettuce.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 June 2025
-
Its menu includes the 8oz Trump Cheeseburger and the 16oz Trump Tower, both with fries, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and Trump Sauce.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The Wegmans grocery chain has also improved the customer experience by using the GS1 Digital Link.—
Benjamin Claeys,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
Even Walmart and Target sell craft supplies, though hard-core crafters will point out, rightly, that those chains don’t come close to offering the selection of fabric and other materials that Joann did.—
Andrea Valdez,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2025
Verb
-
But nothing in it would significantly constrain stories set in the kids’ present-day lives.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
5 June 2025
-
Elliot Grainge, now 31, certainly tips the scale towards a younger, more nimble record executive less constrained by the old-boys-club way of doing things.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Rather than pushing forward, take this time to heal, recharge, and prepare for what’s next.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 June 2025
-
Lewis has healed, and new lights were installed in the backyard.—
Steve Hartman,
CBS News,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
In fact, the predicament of Enphase Energy illustrates the risks of heavily investing in a single stock.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
Two boaters were rescued from a treacherous predicament on a raging river in Maryland, officials said.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Miami Herald,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
This framework was sustainable—both strategically and politically—as long as the U.S. military retained its dominance in the region, the threat from China was confined, and the potential contributions of U.S. allies were limited to their own self-defense.—
ELY RATNER,
Foreign Affairs,
27 May 2025
-
But, in the United States, driverless cars are confined to a handful of cities and operated, as robo-taxis, by a small number of companies.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bind. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share