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
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 handcuff
Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Pekara said that after metal handcuffs were removed so a CT scan could be conducted, Talley reached under a blanket and fatally shot Officer John Bartholomew in the face.
—Michael Tobin, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Victims were sometimes found handcuffed or bound.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Noun
Thursday, Thorsen was flown in handcuffs from Germany to Atlanta, also the home of CDC headquarters.
—Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Pekara said that after metal handcuffs were removed so a CT scan could be conducted, Talley reached under a blanket and fatally shot Officer John Bartholomew in the face.
—Michael Tobin, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Verb
Victims were sometimes found handcuffed or bound.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Victims were sometimes found handcuffed or bound.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuff
Noun
-
Yet with tropical countries approaching the year’s first planting season, prices for key commodity crops haven’t yet budged, putting farmers in a bind.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Years of ignoring improper payments while promoting more program enrollment at all costs have now put the Commonwealth’s taxpayers in a bind.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Luukkonen made a few big saves in the second period to keep the score tied before Buffalo eventually took the lead.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy were among those tied at one point.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the victim both times, impeded by Kevin Schade and then Igor Thiago.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
In the Jazz Age, the culture and the style that Bradley was soaking up every night were information that white performers craved, but which racial segregation impeded them from accessing.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Kelce wore a charcoal-gray plaid suit paired with a black T-shirt and a chain necklace.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
Inside was the set for Metro Designers, an outlet of Christie Smith’s clothing chain, which sells monochromatic clothes—one color per month.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
But experts say the seesaw may be hampering efforts to reach a deal.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
12 May 2026
-
The shadow of the Epstein scandal Starmer's government, despite a massive Labour majority in parliament, has struggled to lower the cost of living and kick start a floundering British economy — hampered albeit by the wars in Ukraine and Iran and their devastating impact on global energy prices.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Similar artificial intelligence legislation had failed in previous years due to concerns from the governor’s office that regulations would hinder innovation in the state.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
De-escalate the Crisis Narrative The word crisis is splashed across every headline regarding mental health, but Redding warns that overusing this term can actually hinder our ability to help.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The strongest bond is the one that knows how to meet you clearly.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Lu remains free on bond until his sentencing, a date for which has not yet been set.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Cole Allen, who was shackled and wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate the president of the United States, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, transporting a firearm across state lines and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Jake Gibson,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Allen, who did not speak at all during Monday's hearing, wore an orange prison jumpsuit and was shackled around his hands and feet.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuff. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
