as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
handcuffed by a dearth of funding, the preservation society can do little but stand by as these historic structures deteriorate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bound
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 hampered
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 handcuffed
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2025
After officers arrived, Johnson tried to escape while being handcuffed and was only subdued after police tased him.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
O’Hara, who recorded his protests and shared them on TikTok, was released without charges after being handcuffed for about 20 minutes, according to the lawsuit.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
When told to back up, Givens starts yelling at police, at which point he is grabbed, taken to the ground and handcuffed.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
At the precinct, the officers handcuffed him to a chair.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Jenner drew criticism earlier this month after posting a short Instagram clip showing her walking handcuffed down a jail hallway surrounded by officers as part of a promo for the King Kylie relaunch.
—Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Two hours later, they were handcuffed and taken for fingerprinting, and their hope grew stronger.
—Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Police ordered Allen to kneel, handcuffed him, and searched him.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Don’t feel handcuffed to the ingredients.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2025
After officers arrived, Johnson tried to escape while being handcuffed and was only subdued after police tased him.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
O’Hara, who recorded his protests and shared them on TikTok, was released without charges after being handcuffed for about 20 minutes, according to the lawsuit.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
When told to back up, Givens starts yelling at police, at which point he is grabbed, taken to the ground and handcuffed.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
At the precinct, the officers handcuffed him to a chair.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Jenner drew criticism earlier this month after posting a short Instagram clip showing her walking handcuffed down a jail hallway surrounded by officers as part of a promo for the King Kylie relaunch.
—Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Two hours later, they were handcuffed and taken for fingerprinting, and their hope grew stronger.
—Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Police ordered Allen to kneel, handcuffed him, and searched him.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffed
Adjective
-
These brawls further eroded democratic norms, while driving voters away from left-wing and moderate parties who seemed helpless to halt them.—
Time,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
She was resigned to her fate, helpless with indignation.—
Jack O'Connor,
Outdoor Life,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
It is bounded by Seventh Street to the east, Fourth Street to the west, Jefferson Street to the north, and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks to the south.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Age of Imprisonment both controls and performs leaps and bounds better than its predecessors.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hubbard has been somewhat hampered by injury this season, missing two of his team's eight games.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Just assessing the damage could take weeks, and airport closures have hampered recovery efforts.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition, the left side of his face became paralyzed.—
Kimberly Nordyke,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Oct. 2025
-
In August, Elon Musk’s Neuralink expanded to the UK with a clinical study testing its brain chip to help paralyzed patients control devices through thought.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Falcons looked to have tied the game up in the fourth quarter with less than five minutes to go on Drake London’s third touchdown catch of the game but Parker Romo missed the extra point.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Still, Colbert didn’t shy from validating those who tied the cancellation to political pressure.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Simmons’ financial liabilities don’t seem to have impeded his movements.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Gaza desperately needs items that the Israeli government has frequently impeded, such as emergency shelter supplies, infrastructure reconstruction materials, medical supplies, fuel, and power generation.—
Jeremy Konyndyk,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The company attributed the decline to weak demand, shifting some shipments to Q4 and an unfavorable mix.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
-
It is considered a serious condition and can be dangerous or life-threatening, especially to older adults, people with weak immune systems and pregnant women.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
Freep.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Last month, immigration authorities raided a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia, detained 300 South Korean workers and showed video of some of them shackled in chains.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Donna appeared in the Tallahassee courtroom on Monday, shackled in a purple jumpsuit.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffed. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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