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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of handcuffed
Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
That prompted another deputy to tackle Cardenas, while others piled on top of him and handcuffed him, the legal filing said.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Colvin was dragged off the bus, handcuffed, and charged with assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and violating city segregation laws.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 Jan. 2026
He was arrested weeks later at his home, handcuffed and cited with criminal damage to property, later amended to disorderly conduct.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Ochoa's arrest in downtown Iowa City was captured in a three-minute video that shows him, dressed in Adidas sweatpants and a Bread Garden Market shirt, being pulled from an exit, wrestled to the ground, and handcuffed by a trio of individuals.
—Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 10 Jan. 2026
The officers tackled people, handcuffed two staff members and released chemical irritants on bystanders, an official from the Minneapolis school told MPR.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
The suspects were then caught on camera getting handcuffed and escorted to a police cruiser, body camera footage shows.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
After the Citrus Bowl, wide receiver Kendrick Bell suggested that Underwood was handcuffed for much of this season.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
He was handcuffed and put in the back of the deputy’s patrol car.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
That prompted another deputy to tackle Cardenas, while others piled on top of him and handcuffed him, the legal filing said.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Colvin was dragged off the bus, handcuffed, and charged with assault and battery, disorderly conduct, and violating city segregation laws.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 13 Jan. 2026
He was arrested weeks later at his home, handcuffed and cited with criminal damage to property, later amended to disorderly conduct.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Ochoa's arrest in downtown Iowa City was captured in a three-minute video that shows him, dressed in Adidas sweatpants and a Bread Garden Market shirt, being pulled from an exit, wrestled to the ground, and handcuffed by a trio of individuals.
—Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 10 Jan. 2026
The officers tackled people, handcuffed two staff members and released chemical irritants on bystanders, an official from the Minneapolis school told MPR.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
The suspects were then caught on camera getting handcuffed and escorted to a police cruiser, body camera footage shows.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
After the Citrus Bowl, wide receiver Kendrick Bell suggested that Underwood was handcuffed for much of this season.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffed
Adjective
-
So little, so helpless, so good.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Scam reporting is currently fragmented and confusing, leaving victims feeling helpless.—
Caroline Melear,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Three players handled the ball after the inbounds, but DiCostanzo’s 3-point shot bounded long off the back of the rim with two seconds remaining.—
Martin Henderson,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The entertainment area — bounded by Southwest Second Street, the railroad tracks, the New River and Nugent Avenue — sits near the Riverwalk, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Discovery and Science.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sam Leavitt, who starred at Arizona State the past two seasons and led the Sun Devils to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 before injuries hampered him this year, has committed to the LSU Tigers, according to multiple reports Monday.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Injuries have hampered the offensive line, and quarterback Jalen Hurts has at times appeared tentative rather than the aggressive passer and scrambler that helped lead the Eagles to victory in the Super Bowl.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Clancy allegedly strangled her three children and then tried to kill herself by jumping out a window in 2023, leaving her paralyzed from the sternum down.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Smith, an Arizona husband and father, is completely paralyzed and relies on a ventilator to breathe.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bell and Shepard got engaged that same year and tied the knot in 2013.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The Sabres, however, tied it again.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, the water vapor in that impeded breath condenses on the surface of your immediately-adjacent prescription glasses, sunglasses or ski goggles.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Adding palbociclib, however, blocked this adaptation and impeded the cancer cells’ ability to survive.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Its formula of ceramides, astaxanthin, and arginine strengthen, provide elasticity, and heal weak or broken hair.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
-
These winds could occasionally trigger minor (G1-level) geomagnetic storm activity, though displays are expected to be weaker and more sporadic than those seen over the weekend.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
McKee appeared very calm while in court at the Winnebago County Justice Center and showed no emotion while he was shackled in a yellow jail jumpsuit.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
His legs were shackled, but his hands were free.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffed. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
