Synonyms of handcuffed

handcuffed 1 of 2

adjective

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

• helpless
• paralyzed
• weak
• incompetent
• powerless
• hog-tied
• impotent
• high and dry
• hamstrung
• passive
• incapable
• useless
• ineffective
• impuissant
• unfit
• feeble
• ineffectual
• supine
• infirm
• inept
• spineless
• frail
• unaggressive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• able
• powerful
• strong
• capable
• competent
• mighty
• effective
• efficient
• potent
• dominant
• authoritarian
• autocratic
• tough
• sturdy
• dynamic
• forceful
• vigorous
• important
• tyrannical
• robust
• energetic
• major
• significant
• top
• dictatorial
• senior
• despotic
• puissant
• magisterial
• high-level

handcuffed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of handcuff

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

• bound
• tied
• shackled
• hampered
• chained
• pinioned
• manacled
• confined
• lashed
• fettered
• constrained
• enchained
• attached
• trammeled
• enfettered
• trussed
• gyved
• linked
• secured
• hobbled
• fastened
• hog-tied
• ironed
• restricted
• hindered
• impeded
• bitted
• limited
• joined
• curbed
• tangled
• entangled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rescued
• liberated
• freed
• released
• unbound
• unshackled
• emancipated
• loosed
• untied
• unfastened
• unfettered
• detached
• disengaged
• undid
• untangled

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

• hampered
• impeded
• hindered
• embarrassed
• obstructed
• handicapped
• shackled
• manacled
• inhibited
• cramped
• hobbled
• blocked
• stymied
• hog-tied
• fettered
• restrained
• tied up
• delayed
• encumbered
• interfered (with)
• tied
• constrained
• short-circuited
• clogged
• disrupted
• trammeled
• held back
• bound
• frustrated
• arrested
• thwarted
• chained
• tethered
• cramped one's style
• balked
• reined
• leashed
• stifled
• held up
• barricaded
• gave a hard time
• curbed
• checked
• choked
• retarded
• retained
• strangled
• confined
• braked
• baffled
• blockaded
• muzzled
• suffocated
• haltered
• smothered
• mired
• bogged (down)
• foiled
• sabotaged
• roadblocked
• stumped
• derailed
• repressed
• hemmed (in)
• suppressed
• hedged (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisted
• helped
• aided
• facilitated
• opened
• released
• cleared
• freed
• liberated
• untied
• loosened
• unplugged
• smoothed
• encouraged
• promoted
• made way
• unclogged
• unstopped
• furthered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of handcuffed

Verb

The Callis Family handcuffed Darby Allin by tape, but that didn’t stop him from running wild with a suicide dive on Jake Doyle. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

The Los Angeles Police Department released a video that shows officers at the Valley jail manhandle an uncooperative inmate who died after he was left handcuffed with a bag over his head while laying prone on the bunk in his cell. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Vernon said the glove would not be used on a person believed to be armed with a weapon; instead, it would be used on someone in close proximity who is unarmed and resisting being handcuffed. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

This month he was headed down the jetway to board a plane to Las Vegas when he was grabbed by three officers and handcuffed. — Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

The complementary setup is intended to prevent defenders from being handcuffed and improve the success rate of their outlet passes. — Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Vasquez punched the man and threatened to shoot him, while the woman was removed from the vehicle and handcuffed, the statement said. — CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Vasquez punched the man and threatened to shoot him, while the woman was removed from the vehicle and handcuffed. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Owen is bamboozled by a cunning opportunist, handcuffed, and robbed in his underwear. — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026