HANDCUFFED Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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handcuffed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of handcuff

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

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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

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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

Verb

Instead, the Tates were handcuffed outside the venue as British authorities seek their extradition, according to multiple media reports. — Staff Report, USA Today, 19 July 2026 Police said the man continued to resist being handcuffed by burying his left arm under his body, so one of the officers struck him on the side of his body, which is when video of the incident that were sent to the Statesman began. — Alex Brizee july 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026 Instead, there’s a growing concern MLS has handcuffed itself by hiding behind the Apple TV paywall. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026 She was handcuffed and seated in the backseat of a Montville Township Police Department car. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Once Clarke did eventually pull over, he was handcuffed and put in the back of the Cross County sheriff deputy's patrol vehicle. — Jake Rosenwasser, CBS News, 13 July 2026 Martin, who sat handcuffed in the jury box, did not react as the woman spoke. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026 Federal officers stand over a man with a bloody shirt who is handcuffed face down, moaning in pain as his left foot shakes. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 On the 14th floor, three of them broke into Ojeda’s apartment, handcuffed him in front of his terrified wife and son, and dragged him out, according to court documents and security video. — Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffed

Adjective

While he’s been fighting in Troy, his palace has been overrun by men who want to marry his faithful wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and murder his helpless son, Telemachus (Tom Holland).

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
The grandfather is seen running around a few trees, but the bison soon catches up and tosses the helpless visitor eight feet in the air.

— Suzanne Yeo, ABC News, 13 July 2026

Definition of helpless

Verb

The pilot started in a smaller downtown area the following year before it was expanded it earlier this year to span an area bounded by Irving Park Road to the north, 26th Street to the south and Ashland Avenue to the west.

— A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Down 2-0 entering the ninth inning against the New York Mets, the Red Sox bounded back to tie the score and win 3-2 in extra innings, their impressive midseason run stretching their current win streak to nine games to close out the first half.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of bound

Verb

And that his injury severely hampered their chances in the second half of the campaign.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 14 July 2026
The response has been hampered by a funding gap, attacks on health centers, and an ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, as well as mistrust among local communities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026

Definition of hampered

Adjective

Yuba City resident Michelle Reinhart said the disease left her essentially paralyzed, unable to move her hands or head for about two weeks after contracting the disease in 2015.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
His fixation on the bill — which lacks enough GOP support in the Senate — has undermined unrelated Republican priorities in both chambers and nearly paralyzed legislative business in the House.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Definition of paralyzed

Verb

Boston ranks last in the AL in home runs (tied with the Cleveland Guardians), and the hitters don’t strike out or walk much, either.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Many cases are part of the outbreak in the Midwest, which could be the largest cyclospora outbreak on record if all tied to the same source, while others are part of separate investigations.

— Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Definition of tied

Verb

Supporters had campaigned for Merlin to be allowed into the Azteca to witness Mexico’s final group game — but the dabbler found his free passage impeded on Wednesday evening by FIFA regulations.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026
The Sugar Act directly impeded colonial drinking, as molasses is a key ingredient in rum.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Definition of impeded

Adjective

But despite growing international demand for Chinese goods, domestic consumption remains a critical weak spot in the nation’s economic development.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
The stock plunged 25% for its worst day on record after issuing weak preliminary results for the second quarter.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 2026

Definition of weak

Verb

The airline’s flights have grown longer and crueler in recent years, with deportees sometimes shackled for days, according to an investigation by Mother Jones.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Carlos Sanchez, the Colombia midfielder, shadowed and successfully shackled Messi in a 2011 Copa America game that finished goalless.

— Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of shackled

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“Handcuffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffed. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of handcuffed

adjective

verb

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