1
as in sequences
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in handcuffs
something that physically prevents free movement
chains on the prisoner's ankles
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in binds
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chains
Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
The creative, who helmed the Gaultier brand from 2021 to 2024, also heads up an eponymous jewelry business offering bag chains, charms and other accessories in Tétier’s playful, maximalist style — teddy bears, sculptural flowers and multipatterned strings often included.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
Food and Drug Administration records viewed by PEOPLE indicated that the recall impacted products sold at major grocery store chains across the country, including Giant Eagle, Walmart, Kroger, and Sprouts.
—Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Inside these tiny zones, PET chains stretched, cracked, and softened , providing perfect conditions for reacting with sodium hydroxide.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
While the Browns aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut, their defense has been stingy, and the Steelers' offense has had trouble moving the chains this season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Swift, who released the movie directly to cinema chains under a partnership, without involving a traditional Hollywood studio, has not yet announced when her new film would be available to stream.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
If the defense plays high coverage to take the deep ball away, the Buckeyes can throw it short and move the chains.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
In a refugee camp in Bangladesh, children jump rope with chains of rubber bands.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
So what does open carry mean for retailers — grocery chains, shopping malls, movie and performing arts theaters?
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
The creative, who helmed the Gaultier brand from 2021 to 2024, also heads up an eponymous jewelry business offering bag chains, charms and other accessories in Tétier’s playful, maximalist style — teddy bears, sculptural flowers and multipatterned strings often included.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
Food and Drug Administration records viewed by PEOPLE indicated that the recall impacted products sold at major grocery store chains across the country, including Giant Eagle, Walmart, Kroger, and Sprouts.
—Amy McCarthy, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
Inside these tiny zones, PET chains stretched, cracked, and softened , providing perfect conditions for reacting with sodium hydroxide.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
While the Browns aren't exactly an offensive juggernaut, their defense has been stingy, and the Steelers' offense has had trouble moving the chains this season.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Swift, who released the movie directly to cinema chains under a partnership, without involving a traditional Hollywood studio, has not yet announced when her new film would be available to stream.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
If the defense plays high coverage to take the deep ball away, the Buckeyes can throw it short and move the chains.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
In a refugee camp in Bangladesh, children jump rope with chains of rubber bands.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
-
These sequences include footage of the survivors on set watching the proceedings, adjusting costumes or nodding in recognition of sets.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
-
There can be hundreds of prompts, and revisions of prompts, resulting in video sequences with some resemblance to protected work, but the eye is sometimes in the beholder.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Many obstacles remain to a lasting peace — including whether Israel will pull its military entirely out of Gaza, whether Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza — but the peace plan may already be shifting the debate around calls to ban and boycott culture coming out of Israel.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The batarangs could hit long-range targets, while the bat-claw brought far-away enemies to Batman and could yank obstacles off walls.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Agents arrested some 475 people—including more than 300 South Korean contractors—and led them away in shackles and handcuffs.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The field intruders were seen in handcuffs as they were being led out of the stadium.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On the smallest scales, the strong nuclear force binds quarks into bound structures, three-at-a-time, known as baryons.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The drug binds to a particular protein on immune system cells called T cells and reduces their ability to attack the body’s beta cells.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This has been a uniquely active year for modern luxury trains.—
Eleanor Flagler Hardy,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Train Song + Train Park Song When you’re done with the Halloween songs, check out these tunes that focus on JJ’s love of trains.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Deployment barriers and open challenges Despite the promise, significant hurdles remain before enzymatic recycling can go industrial.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Challenges and next steps Beyond regulation, the biggest hurdles are price, production scale and consumer acceptance, McClements said.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The company decided to give the initial idea a proper spin-off, launching silver rings, cuff bracelets and choker necklaces reprising the same signature shape.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
-
There are popular beauty Advent calendars packed with TikTok-trending skin care products, plus calendars for young adults who love journaling, building charm bracelets or Lego landscapes, scarfing down sweets, painting, or collecting Squishmallows.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Thinking of patriotism this way ties it more closely to solidarity.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
-
By the end, only one of the assassins is alive; Brian ties him to a tree and slaps him around a bit, demanding to know who hired him.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chains. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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