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
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Recent Examples of handcuff
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The department spokesperson reaffirmed allegations that Barranco swung a weed whacker at agents and resisted commands and handcuffs.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026
Kenny Choi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
That included Americans who have been handcuffed, held at gunpoint or simply prevented from leaving their location.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Noun
Smovzh in handcuffs, flanked by masked officers – was published on the US Border Patrol’s official Instagram account.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
The department spokesperson reaffirmed allegations that Barranco swung a weed whacker at agents and resisted commands and handcuffs.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
In the footage, a line of SFPD officers appears to separate onlookers from the federal agents as Lopez-Jimenez is handcuffed and detained.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
That included Americans who have been handcuffed, held at gunpoint or simply prevented from leaving their location.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuff
Noun
-
The tannins in coffee bind to non-heme iron (the type found in most supplements) and form complexes that are difficult for your body to absorb.—
Lauren Manaker,
SELF,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The bread bakery that sits in the middle If stores aren’t willing to raise prices, that puts wholesalers in a bind.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The least common dates are March 22 and 24, tied with nine instances apiece.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Raynaud finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings, who rallied from a 16-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter before the Hawks staged a 14-2 run to pull away.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
By contrast, laws that appear designed to impede on a religion have been struck down.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Milwaukee Police Department policy states documentation must be done with reasonable distance from police, must not obstruct enforcement or impede other emergency services’ movement.—
Caden Perry,
jsonline.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her dad was the credit manager for a local chain of appliance stores, a second-generation Jewish immigrant, and a lifelong Republican.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Teel is the grandson of Raley’s founder Tom Raley, and was hired at the grocery chain in 1976, after college.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The moves have reportedly left the task force without prosecutors with national security experience, hampering its goal to root out American connections to the Hamas attacks (which included 40 Americans among its approximately 1,200 victims).—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Noem's contract review policy disproportionately hindered FEMA, which awards massive contracts and funds disaster aid projects that frequently exceed $100,000.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The proposal reflects broader concerns Republicans have about regulation and permitting hindering economic development, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) explained during a speech at the Hill and Valley Forum on Wednesday.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Japan’s two-year government bond yield climbed to its highest level since 1996, while five-year yields hit a record, as expectations build for a near-term Bank of Japan rate hike.—
John Cheng,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Kendra Duggar was released on bond and scheduled to return to court on April 29.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Prisoners were shackled to the walls, tortured and often confined to airless, windowless punishment cells.—
Tamara Hinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
-
When their transport convoy is ambushed, the two are forced to run while being shackled to each other and need to work together to reach their destination alive and on time.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuff. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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