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
Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
He was handcuffed for more than an hour before release, according to the Associated Press.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Banks handcuffed him and put him in his car, which seemed like an unmarked police car, and drove him to Barnet, Vermont, prosecutors wrote in Gumrukcu’s sentencing memorandum.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
One video shows the boy handcuffed and sitting on a sidewalk in South End while an officer takes notes.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
Once at the jail, Galarza was seated in the pre-booking area on a bench next to another inmate, who was handcuffed on one arm.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
In footage from inside the building, the detainees could be seen running while handcuffed and their legs shackled, some falling to the ground amid the rush to get away from the gunfire.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
In the video Von criticized, for example, the clip is followed by scenes in which people are being handcuffed and transported for deportation.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Both Jake and Vince have been handcuffed to this idea their whole lives.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
Deputies then placed Adair back in the wheelchair and handcuffed his hands front of him, according to court documents.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
He was handcuffed for more than an hour before release, according to the Associated Press.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Banks handcuffed him and put him in his car, which seemed like an unmarked police car, and drove him to Barnet, Vermont, prosecutors wrote in Gumrukcu’s sentencing memorandum.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
One video shows the boy handcuffed and sitting on a sidewalk in South End while an officer takes notes.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
Once at the jail, Galarza was seated in the pre-booking area on a bench next to another inmate, who was handcuffed on one arm.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 25 Sep. 2025
In footage from inside the building, the detainees could be seen running while handcuffed and their legs shackled, some falling to the ground amid the rush to get away from the gunfire.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
In the video Von criticized, for example, the clip is followed by scenes in which people are being handcuffed and transported for deportation.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Both Jake and Vince have been handcuffed to this idea their whole lives.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffed
Adjective
-
This is obvious enough in the contrast between the aggressive takedown in humor and the helpless surrender in tears.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The series also starred Portia de Rossi as the family's layabout daughter, Lindsay; David Cross as her aspiring actor husband, Tobias; Alia Shawkat as their teen daughter, Maeby; Jessica Walter as the family's elitist matriarch, Lucille; and Tony Hale as the dynasty's helpless youngest son, Buster.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Within moments, the rangy 29-year-old actor Harris Dickinson bounds down an exterior staircase and shakes my hand.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Then, as if that were not enough excitement for any hunter at one time, a big mule-deer buck broke out of the thicket and bounded away to my left, straight for Sally.—
Robert Merchant,
Outdoor Life,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Penn State came up short against Oregon last week, and the second loss of the season hampered their chances of making the College Football Playoff with a tough road ahead of them.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
After being hampered by injuries late in his time with the Royals, Keller is healthy and happy to be part of Chicago’s bullpen.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Turmail pointed to the Brent Spence Bridge’s paralyzed development as a prime example of regulations, including permitting requirements, impeding progress.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The passenger suffered serious injuries that will leave her paralyzed from the waist down, according to the affidavit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Christie finished the game with 12 points, two rebounds and three assists and was the team’s second leading scorer and tied for the lead in Plus/Minus.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Rozeboom, the former Ram who tied his season high with nine tackles, benefited from a switch in responsibilities among the linebackers.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The scandal has already impeded the effort to hold Israel accountable for the death toll in Gaza; the woman fears that anger at Israel might now lead members of the assembly to discount her story and, instead, side with Khan.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
-
However, 76ers guard Kennedy Chandler impeded his path, and Hart hit the hardwood in clear pain.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Stevenson has become more intentional with his efforts to understand offensive concepts and routes and the ways opposing teams often attack his weak spots.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
But this weaker god jumped in without hesitation and was gifted the ability to become Tonatiuh, the sun.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
McFarlin, who could face the death penalty if convicted in the case, appeared briefly in court wearing a red jail shirt with a white tee shirt underneath, his hands shackled in front of his body and a chain around his waist.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The surveillance video shows several detainees, whose arms and legs were shackled, being hurried into the building with the help of federal agents.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffed. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share