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
Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The Okaloosa sheriff’s office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin, and posted a photo of him being led away in handcuffs.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Others, like Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio, see the issue first cropping up in public spending, with programs being squeezed out by the interest payments the government is handcuffed into paying.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Noun
The season ended with Julian and Senior in handcuffs as Matty and Olympia walked away from Jacobson Moore toward a future that appears to include their own law firm.
—Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
The Okaloosa sheriff’s office said Gillum was arrested without incident Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin, and posted a photo of him being led away in handcuffs.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Bartholomew and his partner escorted Talley to Swedish Hospital, where prosecutors said he was handcuffed to a hospital bed.
—Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Others, like Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio, see the issue first cropping up in public spending, with programs being squeezed out by the interest payments the government is handcuffed into paying.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuff
Noun
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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
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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
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While travelers can file claims in bankruptcy proceedings, those tied to points are likely to be last in line for payment, assuming any money is available.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
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Julio Rodriguez had just tied the game in the seventh inning with his second home run of the evening.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Verb
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During the next three weeks, mobile internet was impeded or shut off in the center of Moscow.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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State and federal agencies don’t track data around vitamin K injection refusal or subsequent bleeding, which impedes their ability to quantify and track outcomes, including death.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Two that are also components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average — McDonald's and Walt Disney Co — are the week's headliners, while restaurant chains, media companies and gig economy platforms will also have a big showing.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
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Protesters are demanding that the hardware store chain protect day laborers against future arrests and deportations after last year's uptick in immigration enforcement operations, some of which happened outside of Home Depot locations in Southern California.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
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The intensity of the flames and the resulting smoke, compounded by the fact that the fire spread over the area mostly after dark, hampered the aerial firefighting strategy.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Allen's lawyers further argued that the conditions hinder him from participating in his defense.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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Columbia Business School professor Gernot Wagner said more Americans will ultimately adopt EVs despite the roadblocks that are hindering ownership.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
Noun
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An affective reliance on chatbots will only further erode our communal bonds.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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Davis was being held in the Edmond jail on a $1-million bond and listed in jail records as an Oklahoma City resident.—
Hannah Schoenbaum,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Here, his mournful ex-convict is finally tasting freedom in a country that wants to keep him metaphorically shackled.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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Carvajal’s name was absent from the top of the January indictment unsealed on the morning Maduro arrived shackled in New York with Flores.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuff. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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