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
Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Over six feet tall and skinny, with a mass of reddish curls, Fleming leaps and bounds across stage while delivering riffs on the bitmoji skills of baby boomers, ballads dedicated to deceased chain craft store Joann’s Fabrics, and Celine Dion’s gamer sons.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026
At times, the children were chained to their beds or put in cages for breaking house rules.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chain
Noun
What waits behind the greenhouses and garden beds is a sprawling oasis of elegant indoor-outdoor dining with a secret garden appeal that feels worlds away from the chain restaurants nearby.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Over six feet tall and skinny, with a mass of reddish curls, Fleming leaps and bounds across stage while delivering riffs on the bitmoji skills of baby boomers, ballads dedicated to deceased chain craft store Joann’s Fabrics, and Celine Dion’s gamer sons.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
Men are often the ones in those ICE facilities who are shackling and chaining detainees.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026
At times, the children were chained to their beds or put in cages for breaking house rules.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chain
Noun
-
When Whisenhunt returned for his second inning of work, the 25-year-old had a sequence to scrap from memory.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Power and grace in every step sequence and triple-lutz, triple-loop combination.—
Katie Gunderman,
SELF,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Analysts say Kim's vilification of South Korea reflects his view that Seoul, which helped set up his first meetings with Trump, is no longer a useful intermediary with Washington but an obstacle to his effort to establish a more assertive regional footing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
-
This season has one of the greatest obstacles between the leads.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards, including salsa with no date marks and an employee preparing food while wearing a bracelet.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
For 2026 and the years that follow, timeless staples such as studs and tennis bracelets remain among the most meaningful gifts available.—
Malana VanTayler,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This adorable $20 dish towel features the fan-favorite Courtly Check pattern and a bold bee design that is bound to make a statement in your kitchen.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The former Prince Andrew’s arrest is the kind of thing that is bound to have repercussions for the rest of the British royal family.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The shirts’ release Thursday coincided with the announcement that the first phase of the Metro D Line subway extension will open May 8, with three new stations connecting downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
There were also quick looks at a massive tower floating in the water that could be some kind of gym, plus a beachside town with buildings connected by aquatic bridges.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Lieber added the railroad has been using work trains to clear snow on the LIRR, as well as running empty trains to keep the tracks clear of ice.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
But Marcel, his older brother, and their cousin, Georges Loinger, posed as Boy Scout leaders taking their troops camping, then chaperoned their charges through perilous train journeys and hiked with them through the Alps to Switzerland.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An additional hurdle is that Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric and has no official role in the regime.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Building a functional intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US would require overcoming substantial technical hurdles, such as producing a nuclear warhead and successfully miniaturizing it, Eliana Johns, a Federation of American Scientists senior research associate, said.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Early in the third period, depth forward Bastian found the game-tying goal, dodging Saros.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
So far, Iran’s proxies have not carried out retaliatory attacks tied to the strikes against Iran, though that could change.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chain. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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