as in bind
something that physically prevents free movement
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in binds
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 hampers
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
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Recent Examples of handcuffs
Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Officers eventually placed the man into handcuffs after a struggle.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
So the detectives wanted Ryan in handcuffs.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
As the viral bit has made the rounds on social media, stars including Anne Hathaway, Drew Barrymore, Gigi Hadid and Joe Keery have found themselves in Carpenter's fuzzy handcuffs.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Nov. 2025
Their return capped a week of intense negotiations by Seoul to win their release and bring them home after they were taken into custody in handcuffs and shackles.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Anne Hathaway tried out Sabrina Carpenter's fuzzy pink handcuffs during the pop star's concert at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Baltimore County officials are now calling for a review of how Kenwood High School uses the AI gun detection system and why the teen ended up in handcuffs despite school safety officials quickly determining there was no weapon.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Carpenter then tossed Hadid her signature furry pink handcuffs as Hadid blew her a kiss.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Omar Kelly
august 19, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
At the crash site, some of the rescuers find Morrow, who holds them at gunpoint and handcuffs them together in the lab.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
Brown was seen in handcuffs after the incident, but no arrests were made at the time because police could not locate a victim, WPLG reported.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Officers eventually placed the man into handcuffs after a struggle.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
So the detectives wanted Ryan in handcuffs.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
As the viral bit has made the rounds on social media, stars including Anne Hathaway, Drew Barrymore, Gigi Hadid and Joe Keery have found themselves in Carpenter's fuzzy handcuffs.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Nov. 2025
Their return capped a week of intense negotiations by Seoul to win their release and bring them home after they were taken into custody in handcuffs and shackles.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Anne Hathaway tried out Sabrina Carpenter's fuzzy pink handcuffs during the pop star's concert at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025
Baltimore County officials are now calling for a review of how Kenwood High School uses the AI gun detection system and why the teen ended up in handcuffs despite school safety officials quickly determining there was no weapon.
—Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Carpenter then tossed Hadid her signature furry pink handcuffs as Hadid blew her a kiss.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
But this unit is two plays — or better yet, two injuries — from being a disaster that handcuffs Miami’s offense, like last year’s unit did, after Grier laughed at the media for its concern about fragile state of the 2024 O-line.
—Omar Kelly
august 19, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
At the crash site, some of the rescuers find Morrow, who holds them at gunpoint and handcuffs them together in the lab.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffs
Noun
-
The lack of balance put the Panthers in a bind on early downs, as Young had to carry the offense instead of guiding it in the rain.—
Mike Kaye
Updated January 3,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Those conditions have put the Fed in a bind, since the central bank must balance a dual mandate to keep inflation under control and maximize employment.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
When this sickening sensation happens, the nervous system releases a chemical messenger called substance P, which then binds to receptors in the brain that activate the vomiting reflex — specifically neurokinin-1, or NK-1, receptors.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This piece of legislation legally binds the US to help Taiwan defend itself against stronger neighbors, like China.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tokyo Central is owned by Japanese company Pan Pacific Retail Management, which also runs the grocery chains Gelson’s and Don Quijote.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
3 Dec. 2025
-
Texas Roadhouse, which also operates casual dining chains Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers, is expected to report third-quarter results at the end of October.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Martian atmosphere presents a major obstacle to safely and precisely landing on the surface, and also hinders any attempts to return contents (or people) back to Earth.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Therefore, the siloed nature of retail, not a lack of skills or resources, will prove to be the most significant barrier that hinders progress.—
Raj Dhiman,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The burger chain originally opened in 1982 near the corner of C Street and Elvas Avenue in East Sacramento, according to previous Bee reporting.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Maybe the implications of binding yourself in chains?—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Colin Farrell reprised his role as Oz Cobb on HBO's The Penguin, which ties into the events of The Batman Part II.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
-
An insurgency that ties the United States down in Venezuela would delight Beijing and Russia.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
20 Dec. 2025
-
During the meeting, Amy Flottemesch, president of the Cincinnati Food Truck Association, said the curfew impedes food truck owners’ ability to do business, which relies on late-night crowds.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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