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
Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Baltimore County officials are now calling for a review of how Kenwood High School uses the AI gun detection system and why the teen ended up in handcuffs despite school safety officials quickly determining there was no weapon.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Katie Langford, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Attempting to handcuff Woodley, officers felt a firearm in Woodley’s jacket pocket, at which point Woodley fled.
—Isabelle Friedman, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Noun
Anne Hathaway tried out Sabrina Carpenter's fuzzy pink handcuffs during the pop star's concert at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Baltimore County officials are now calling for a review of how Kenwood High School uses the AI gun detection system and why the teen ended up in handcuffs despite school safety officials quickly determining there was no weapon.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Law enforcement began handcuffing and pulling people sitting in front of the office’s gates.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Attempting to handcuff Woodley, officers felt a firearm in Woodley’s jacket pocket, at which point Woodley fled.
—Isabelle Friedman, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuff
Noun
-
Alvarado put the Phillies in a bind this season, and that might not be easy for those in the clubhouse to forgive.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Similarly to Young in Week 2 against Arizona, Dalton’s giveaways put the Panthers in a bind early.—
DIAMOND VENCES,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The post 9/11 blunders in which Cheney played a part can be tied to the rise of ISIS, perennial instability in the Middle East, the migrant crisis and the crushing debt burden ($38 trillion and counting) that looms over the US economy.—
Ben Wedeman,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
This was tied at 20-20 through 14 minutes, until the game went tilt with a 20-5 Aztecs run to close the half.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Neither tug was blatant, but both seemed to impede Allende.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Three people with knowledge of those interests said there was consternation among insiders that forcing Maduro out could foment chaos and unrest and impede their access.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
With that in mind, consider stacking charms, unique metals, different chain weights, mixing stones, and even materials when layering pieces in your collection (or shopping for new styles).—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Videos of diners who were surprised to see the singer at one of the restaurant chain’s locations have also gone viral.—
Natalia Cano,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After the gargantuan task of playing a six-hour and 39-minute baseball game, it was almost expected that the Dodgers would be somewhat hampered, but the Toronto Blue Jays not only had the same circumstances, but handily won Game 4.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, challenges such as battery weight, regulation, safety, and scalability still hinder most projects.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Did the leaks hinder your creative approach to making music?—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Gelinas points out that the MTA pledges future bus fares to bond holders as a condition of borrowing money.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Akaganeite gripped pollutants most strongly, but lepidocrocite had more chemically active sites that triggered faster bond breaking.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Court process begins with hearing Both Mahmoud and Ali were shackled as they were escorted into court Monday, according to CNN reporters who attended the hearing.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Last month, immigration authorities raided a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, detained 300 South Korean workers and showed video of some of them shackled in chains.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuff. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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