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
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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
Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The video shows a group of Kansas City police officers placing two people in handcuffs in a parking lot and shooing other people away from the area.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2026
Mangione wore prison garb to the hearing — his first time back in federal court since his arraignment last year — and his hands were not in handcuffs during the proceedings.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Aside from the handcuffs, little in the frame signals coercion or loss of control.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
When she's arrested and taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs, that will feel much better than today did.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Days later, after seeing Maduro in handcuffs and bound for a New York courtroom, Presti and millions of other Venezuelans who left their homeland to escape his regime are asking new questions about what’s next for their country and their families.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Jan. 2026
According to the disciplinary memo, Spees told internal affairs investigators that one of Gialenes' hands slipped out of the handcuffs the officer placed her in, which represented a severe threat.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
An image of Maduro in handcuffs wearing a blue sweatshirt and giving a thumbs-up was followed immediately by a marketing meme posted by that sweatshirt’s manufacturer; scroll more and there’s the same photo, now with Maduro’s face replaced by Charlie Kirk’s.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Omar Kelly
august 19, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
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
After a man appears to resist, the situation escalates as several agents tackle him and place him in handcuffs.
—Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The video shows a group of Kansas City police officers placing two people in handcuffs in a parking lot and shooing other people away from the area.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2026
Mangione wore prison garb to the hearing — his first time back in federal court since his arraignment last year — and his hands were not in handcuffs during the proceedings.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Aside from the handcuffs, little in the frame signals coercion or loss of control.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
When she's arrested and taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs, that will feel much better than today did.
—Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Days later, after seeing Maduro in handcuffs and bound for a New York courtroom, Presti and millions of other Venezuelans who left their homeland to escape his regime are asking new questions about what’s next for their country and their families.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Jan. 2026
According to the disciplinary memo, Spees told internal affairs investigators that one of Gialenes' hands slipped out of the handcuffs the officer placed her in, which represented a severe threat.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026
An image of Maduro in handcuffs wearing a blue sweatshirt and giving a thumbs-up was followed immediately by a marketing meme posted by that sweatshirt’s manufacturer; scroll more and there’s the same photo, now with Maduro’s face replaced by Charlie Kirk’s.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
But this unit is two plays — or better yet, two injuries — from being a disaster that handcuffs Miami’s offense, like last year’s unit did, after Grier laughed at the media for its concern about fragile state of the 2024 O-line.
—Omar Kelly
august 19, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
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
-
Policy choices like deficit spending and higher tariffs threaten to boost inflation, putting the Fed in a bind.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a lot of deus ex machina resolution of tight binds, things that happen off-screen and are waved away.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When this sickening sensation happens, the nervous system releases a chemical messenger called substance P, which then binds to receptors in the brain that activate the vomiting reflex — specifically neurokinin-1, or NK-1, receptors.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This piece of legislation legally binds the US to help Taiwan defend itself against stronger neighbors, like China.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Jan. 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,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Texas Roadhouse, which also operates casual dining chains Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers, is expected to report third-quarter results at the end of October.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That imbalance — one main character rendered flesh and blood while the other never comes to life — hinders the central narrative of the film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
3 Jan. 2026
-
The anti-caking coating that prevents cheese from sticking together also hinders cheese from blending or melting into other foods with ease.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The burger chain originally opened in 1982 near the corner of C Street and Elvas Avenue in East Sacramento, according to previous Bee reporting.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Maybe the implications of binding yourself in chains?—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That ties the Islanders with the Blackhawks for the league low.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
However, the text of his Wednesday order caps salaries at current levels and ties future executive incentive compensation to delivery and production metrics.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
20 Dec. 2025
-
During the meeting, Amy Flottemesch, president of the Cincinnati Food Truck Association, said the curfew impedes food truck owners’ ability to do business, which relies on late-night crowds.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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