CHAINS Synonyms: 216 Similar and Opposite Words

chains 1 of 2

noun

plural of chain

as in sequences

a series of things linked together the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain

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Relevance

as in obstacles

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

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as in handcuffs

something that physically prevents free movement chains on the prisoner's ankles

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chains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of chain

as in binds

to confine or restrain with or as if with chains chaining up the dog in the backyard

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as in strings

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

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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 chains

Noun

Fast-food chains like Shake Shack and Chipotle are among those that have rolled out high-protein, lower-carb menus, as Fox News Digital previously reported. —

Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026 Load your car with winter travel gear, including tire chains, ice scraper/snowbrush, jumper cables, and road flares. —

Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026 All available buses will be outfitted with chains on their tires, but articulated ones will be removed from service for safety reasons. —

January 25, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026 The start of the film sees Frank Baker (Kingsley Ben-Adir) being brought by transfer to a new prison, wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, handcuffs and ankle chains. —

Damon Wise, Deadline, 25 Jan. 2026 The chains are seeing an increase in milk, eggs, bread, broth, coffee, cereal, chicken, ground beef, soft drinks, bottled water, salty snacks, other nonperishable foods, frozen pizza and firewood. —

Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2026 Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. —

Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2026 Enabled by revolutionary advances in communications, computers, and shipping, multinational firms dramatically reduced their costs and enlarged their markets by developing global supply and distribution chains. —

Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026 New York — The biggest chains in America are using facial recognition technology to try to stop shoplifting. —

Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 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 Texas Roadhouse, which also operates casual dining chains Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers, is expected to report third-quarter results at the end of October. —

Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chains

Noun

Instead, most elements are choreographic—step sequences, hydroplaning, and twizzles (a continuous forward-moving twirl on one foot).

— Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
There are several virtuosic sequences, including the plane crash and Linda’s duel to the death with the boar, that fully justify the film’s R rating and induce laughter with their audacity.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026