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
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 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
The handcuffs were removed, and one of the men pulled down my sleeves to cover the cuts and bruises on my arms.
—Shelly Kittleson, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Alfred was put into handcuffs, and police said there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from him.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Cannata was taken to the Aventura Brightline Station, where his handcuffs were taken off and he was left there by police.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
After federal agents put her in handcuffs, Batra spent the next 24 hours moving between holding cells without food or water, the Texas Observer reported.
—Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Similarly, handcuffs, when used accordingly to strict protocols, are not instruments of abuse, but of protection.
—Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
With cameras rolling, Orellana, his parents and brothers were led out in handcuffs as agents searched their home.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 14 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
The officer was then recorded repeatedly punching Suarez, before placing him in handcuffs, court documents show.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 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
The handcuffs were removed, and one of the men pulled down my sleeves to cover the cuts and bruises on my arms.
—Shelly Kittleson, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Alfred was put into handcuffs, and police said there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from him.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Cannata was taken to the Aventura Brightline Station, where his handcuffs were taken off and he was left there by police.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
After federal agents put her in handcuffs, Batra spent the next 24 hours moving between holding cells without food or water, the Texas Observer reported.
—Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Similarly, handcuffs, when used accordingly to strict protocols, are not instruments of abuse, but of protection.
—Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
With cameras rolling, Orellana, his parents and brothers were led out in handcuffs as agents searched their home.
—A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 14 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
-
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
-
Duncan, along with Council Member Melissa Robinson, expressed concern that the funding could put the city in a financial bind later in the fiscal year.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These ragtag misfits, who are all incredibly talented and who are in desperate need of each other, and the glue that binds them together is the music and the city.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The technique uses a special solvent called ethaline that selectively binds different metals at different voltages, allowing precise separation.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 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,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 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
-
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,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Conversely, destructive energy hinders performance, breeds resentment, and stifles innovation.—
Rebecca Ahmed,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 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
-
The 11 home runs in March/April ties Paul Kornerko for the most by a White Sox player in those months.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The decision to name both cubs after rangers ties the zoo’s conservation breeding program to the front-line work of keeping Sumatran tigers alive in the wild.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
24 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 25 Apr. 2026.
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