as in bind
usually handcuffs plural
something that physically prevents free movement
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the fear that the new mandatory, standardized tests will handcuff the state's teachers, who will have to specifically tailor their lesson plans for the test
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of handcuff
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2026
The cold metal handcuffs dug into my wrists.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Cellphone video showed officers handcuffing and pressing him against an unmarked sedan, with his forehead bloodied.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Noun
He was placed in handcuffs and taken away.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2026
The cold metal handcuffs dug into my wrists.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Verb
The enforcer handcuffed me and shoved me into the same car, again forcing my head between my knees.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Cellphone video showed officers handcuffing and pressing him against an unmarked sedan, with his forehead bloodied.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuff
Noun
-
Back then, the Dallas Mavericks were in a bind, their point guard slipping away.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
Yet polls show the president has been leading Republicans into politically perilous territory with the broader electorate, and his demands of absolute loyalty could put GOP lawmakers in a bind as the midterm election approaches with many of the president’s policies proving unpopular.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Another solo blast tied it at three apiece in the seventh when Hokies infielder Ethan Gibson covered the deepest part of the park and chased Bruins’ starter Michael Barnett after six-plus innings.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
31 May 2026
-
Harel cleared 7-2 on his first attempt — a personal best — tying for fourth on the national list this year.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
This ruling sets a troubling precedent that undermines protections afforded to interstate commerce and impedes site remediation, as well as the safe and effective long-term management of these materials for customers in Michigan and throughout the country.—
Heath Kalb,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
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His attempts to impede the certification of the 2020 election led to him being charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, alongside hundreds of January 6th rioters.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Now, his family is suing the restaurant chain, as well as the manufacturer that supplied the raw ground beef kofta.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
The Rockies’ Kyle Karros hit an opposite-field line drive that carried to the right-field warning track, but Lee tracked down the potential extra-base hit on the run, then crashed into the chain-link portion of the fence.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
Verb
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New vaccines had been developed to reduce the risk of death from COVID-19, and experts worried that anxiety over needle sticks would hamper uptake.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2026
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Rescuers at the scene have detailed on social media the challenging mountainous terrain and heavy rain that is hampering the operation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Undeterred, the siblings set off on a perilous journey, helped and hindered by both natural and supernatural elements along the way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
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Last year, probation officials began requiring CLERB to seek court approval before obtaining records in cases involving juveniles — a process former CLERB officials and advocates described as hindering meaningful oversight.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The playful relationship that Monterroso Mejia and her dad display in the film reminded Ribeiro about her own bond with her Brazilian father.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
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Violating the Super Speeder law could result in a $500 to $1000 bond, and/or a month, three months, or up to a year of jail time.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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According to the lawsuit, four days after ZOR arrived at the facility, ICE officers shackled him and drove him to the Mexican border.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
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Written by Evan Cooper, the film finds five convicts trying to escape through the mountains following a violent train robbery, while shackled together by foot.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuff. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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