as in bind
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 binds
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 hampers
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 handcuffs
Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Woods participated in four exercises before a deputy placed him in handcuffs.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Moore’s wife came over to the scene as he was placed in handcuffs, court records state.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Instead, she was taken away in handcuffs by military police and transferred to ICE custody.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
One woman continued to shout at Walters beyond her allotted time and was removed from the meeting in handcuffs for refusing to leave.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 7 Apr. 2026
The footage from the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows the legendary golfer undergoing a field sobriety test, being placed into handcuffs and then driven from the scene in the back of the patrol vehicle following Friday's crash.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Police pulled him over and found incriminating items in his vehicle including rope, handcuffs and a ski mask.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The detective took me by the hand and placed handcuffs on my wrists once again.
—Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.
—Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
At the crash site, some of the rescuers find Morrow, who holds them at gunpoint and handcuffs them together in the lab.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
Body-camera footage shows him being placed in handcuffs, while agents searched his FedEx truck for some sign of Athena.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Woods participated in four exercises before a deputy placed him in handcuffs.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Moore’s wife came over to the scene as he was placed in handcuffs, court records state.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Instead, she was taken away in handcuffs by military police and transferred to ICE custody.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
One woman continued to shout at Walters beyond her allotted time and was removed from the meeting in handcuffs for refusing to leave.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 7 Apr. 2026
The footage from the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows the legendary golfer undergoing a field sobriety test, being placed into handcuffs and then driven from the scene in the back of the patrol vehicle following Friday's crash.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Police pulled him over and found incriminating items in his vehicle including rope, handcuffs and a ski mask.
—Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The detective took me by the hand and placed handcuffs on my wrists once again.
—Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
The officer again tells Timberlake to turn around and handcuffs him.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.
—Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
At the crash site, some of the rescuers find Morrow, who holds them at gunpoint and handcuffs them together in the lab.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffs
Noun
-
Faced with the request to make a Martini that was simultaneously very cold and bracingly strong, legendary bartender Salvatore Calabrese was in a bind.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Which puts the Knicks in a bind.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In The Long Game, Shane and Ilya are forced to confront their fears and insecurities — wrestling with codependency, depression, and self-perception — while trying to maintain the love that binds them.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The recluse toxin binds to the surface of cells and scoots along it like a lawn mower, clipping the heads off molecules on this surface.—
Matthew Cordes,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
To address this, Ivo uses a multi-step pipeline that chains together more than 400 model calls for each contract review.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Tokyo Central is owned by Japanese company Pan Pacific Retail Management, which also runs the grocery chains Gelson’s and Don Quijote.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Exercise also reduces chronic inflammation in the brain, which hinders its ability to repair itself, Oye-Somefun said.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In the northeastern state of Alagoas, some prisoners were handed a Kindle with 300 literary works on them, whereas other, more conservative states have heavy bureaucracy which hinders access, Dias said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The remote chain of more than 60 islands off the tip of India, south of the Maldives, has been under British control since 1814.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Some tribes, including the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma and Oneida Indian Nation in New York, have their own store chains.—
Mead Gruver,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An abduction sequence ties the audience’s nerves in knots with cinematographer Isaac Bauman’s athletic tracking shot loping up the stairs to Margot’s apartment accompanied by Gavin Brivik’s pulse-hammering score.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The round, sesame-seeded bread is layered with Italian deli meats, cheeses and a tangy olive salad that ties everything together.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The weir prohibits the flow of saltwater into the lagoon and impedes the draining of sediment from the lagoon into the ocean.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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