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

Al Jazeera reported that monks and rescue workers collaborated to form human chains via which treasures were passed from the burning building to safety. —

News Desk, Artforum, 15 June 2026 These days, the Yum Brands unit is facing stiff competition, both from upstart chicken chains and legacy giants like McDonald’s that are betting big on the growing global popularity of chicken. —

Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 15 June 2026 There are more brands now selling artisanal pickles in distinctive flavors like honey harissa (or gimmicky ones that beg for virality, like purple grape), and many of them are sold at national grocery chains. —

Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 14 June 2026 According to the company’s website, the business sells precious and semi-precious crystal pendants, carvings and chains. —

Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026 Peptides are short and simple chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. —

Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026 Banks was allegedly not given an opportunity to show a text message sent to Miss J that went unanswered and text chains with other crew members trying to locate him after his stroke. —

Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026 Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys. —

Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 More than seven in 10 of six-figure earners now shop at discount grocery chains to save cash, according to a 2025 report from Clarify Capital. —

Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 June 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

Getting to shoot the action sequences, getting to play those moments of high intensity, the thrills, the suspense, that was such a joy.

— Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 15 June 2026
Astronomer and UFOlogist Jacques Vallée appears to shed additional light on Juan’s story, and dramatic effects sequences dramatize the emotional impact of his close encounter.

— Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026