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

What began there, on the corner of South Archer Avenue and South Pulaski Road, with Leodegario Martínez Barradas dropping his flowers while federal agents handcuffed him and led him away, quickly spread throughout Chicago. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Police said the suspect sustained no physical injuries and was successfully handcuffed in the Thursday incident. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026

When handcuffed by investigators, Thakor denied jabbing his wife with a knife. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Bredow was held in contempt and handcuffed, and spent five days in jail. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

In the video posted by bystanders, the woman fell to the ground, where an officer handcuffed her. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

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