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
Austin Turner, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The episode ends with police bodycam footage showing authorities putting Paul in handcuffs in front of her home.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
The footage also showed a man on the ground in handcuffs who appeared to be grinning, the outlet reported.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The footage released by police ends as officers work to remove his handcuffs.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
In the police vehicle, Ramirez tried to sit up and fidgeted with her handcuffs, breathing heavily, footage shows.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026
Nichols was led away in handcuffs.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
They were placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a car while FBI agents searched their home and took items such as computers, cell phones and some paper documents, according to the newspaper.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Officers caught up to the suspect, who allegedly resisted arrest but was eventually placed in handcuffs.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 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
Sugich continued to assault Flores before other deputies took him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The episode ends with police bodycam footage showing authorities putting Paul in handcuffs in front of her home.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
The footage also showed a man on the ground in handcuffs who appeared to be grinning, the outlet reported.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
The footage released by police ends as officers work to remove his handcuffs.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
In the police vehicle, Ramirez tried to sit up and fidgeted with her handcuffs, breathing heavily, footage shows.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026
Nichols was led away in handcuffs.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
They were placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a car while FBI agents searched their home and took items such as computers, cell phones and some paper documents, according to the newspaper.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Officers caught up to the suspect, who allegedly resisted arrest but was eventually placed in handcuffs.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 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
-
The Haredi ultimatum has put Netanyahu in a bind.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The Iran crisis also puts the world’s central banks in a bind.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Randall Zúñiga, director of that country's Judicial Investigation Agency, said last year tests showed Miller Gardner had high levels of carboxyhemoglobin, a compound generated when carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
How Icotyde Works to Treat Plaque Psoriasis Icotyde binds to the interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor, blocking it and thus interrupting the signaling pathway in the body that drives inflammation.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
19 Mar. 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,
17 Mar. 2026
-
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,
11 Mar. 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
-
Traveling back across the ocean also hinders preparation for the following week.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Trump urged Democrats to reopen DHS because the partial shutdown hinders the government’s ability to combat terrorists.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Now, the local chain is preparing to anchor itself in one of the city’s most visible — and long-dormant — building.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Unleaded gasoline and diesel fuels were mixed in error at a Meijer Express fuel station in Macomb County, Michigan, the supermarket chain said Saturday.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Edison ties most executive compensation not to safety but to its financial performance.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The 108-degree day in North Shore, California, ties a mark first reached by Rio Grande City, Texas, in 1954.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
This gross oversight, which is largely due to a lack of financial backing, impedes reproductive health for everyone.—
Kenneth H. Mayer,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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