1
as in sequence
a series of things linked together
the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bracelet
something that physically prevents free movement
chains on the prisoner's ankles
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
chaining up the dog in the backyard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to connect
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole
the prosecutor meticulously and brilliantly chained all the evidence together in his closing argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chain
Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
Your body is designed as a coordinated system with muscles firing in a series of kinetic chains to make that movement possible.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Our first glimpse of Tommy chained up, pleading to be let go, is through the eyes of a young Macedonian refugee, Katrina (Monika Frajczyk), being given a tour of the large countryside manor where she’s just been hired by Chris for twice-a-week housework.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chain
Noun
This slowly digesting form of starch, found in legumes, passes to the colon mostly undigested, where it's fermented into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
Your body is designed as a coordinated system with muscles firing in a series of kinetic chains to make that movement possible.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Look no further than how Duke surged in the second half, despite Ngongba and Foster both chained to the pine.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Our first glimpse of Tommy chained up, pleading to be let go, is through the eyes of a young Macedonian refugee, Katrina (Monika Frajczyk), being given a tour of the large countryside manor where she’s just been hired by Chris for twice-a-week housework.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chain
Noun
-
Hart will, however, address the pair of 20-point comebacks the Knicks pulled off en route to the conference finals for the first time in a quarter-century, a sequence of bizarre events many called a fluke.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The robot is built to manage continuous task sequences efficiently.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While there wasn’t a 7-foot-4 obstacle blocking the lane, the Clippers still couldn’t get out of their own way and lost to the Spurs for the third time in less than a month, 118-99, at the Intuit Dome.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, the physicists don’t see any insurmountable obstacles.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the other end of the spectrum, Nicholas Hoult subtly flexed a rose-gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso with an elegant Milanese bracelet courtside at a Lakers game and John Mulaney rocked the rare Gérald Genta Geneva Minute Repeater on the streets of New York.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Featuring rings, bracelets, necklaces, lockets and brooches, the collection showcases a timeless beauty, reflecting the unyielding love held across generations.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Simple, pack-a-punch drinks such as Zouzou and Nirvana are bound to tempt anyone with a penchant for unique spirits such as eau de vie (aquavit) and cachaça.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Opinions from the Office of Legal Counsel bind the executive branch, but if a court reaches a different interpretation of a legal question, that determination prevails.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The original complaint claims the airport violated federal grant assurances connected to more than $1 million the county accepted since 2022, when the effective ban on ultralights began.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The cave system was significantly impacted by construction of the Maya Train under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, intended to connect Tulum and other tourist destinations to remote areas.—
Ryan Brennan
April 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The hiring push is a part of a larger objective to enhance security on buses and light rail trains and make riders and existing transit ambassadors feel safer aboard.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are technological hurdles for SpaceX to carry out its plans.—
The Los Angeles Times,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This is because their use can open a Pandora’s box of unexpected hurdles and new challenges in the garden.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Before the game, the Wizards were tied with the Indiana Pacers for the worst team in the league, but by the end of the night the bottom spot was theirs alone.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Trailing by three after a disastrous first period, the Sharks got goals from Nick Leddy and Macklin Celebrini in the second period, and a nifty third-period goal from Alex Wennberg to tie the game and bring the capacity crowd at SAP Center to life.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chain. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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