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
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Photos and videos showed people climbing on cars, street signs and light poles, and NYPD officers placing people in handcuffs.
—Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Liberto allegedly threatened the victim with a knife to put on a pair of handcuffs that were in the car.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Videos taken at the event appear to show officers pinning youth down, with one young person placed in handcuffs and young people milling around the carnival area of the annual festival.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
After court officers led Santos out of the courtroom in handcuffs, the Chinatown activist, Karlin Chan, said the sentencing gives the community closure.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
He was placed in handcuffs and taken away.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2026
The cold metal handcuffs dug into my wrists.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
What went into the decision to conclude season one with Coltrane on the run, as opposed to in handcuffs?
—Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.
—Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
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
For the second time in a week, the same NFL player was placed in handcuffs.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Photos and videos showed people climbing on cars, street signs and light poles, and NYPD officers placing people in handcuffs.
—Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Liberto allegedly threatened the victim with a knife to put on a pair of handcuffs that were in the car.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Videos taken at the event appear to show officers pinning youth down, with one young person placed in handcuffs and young people milling around the carnival area of the annual festival.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026
After court officers led Santos out of the courtroom in handcuffs, the Chinatown activist, Karlin Chan, said the sentencing gives the community closure.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
He was placed in handcuffs and taken away.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2026
The cold metal handcuffs dug into my wrists.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
What went into the decision to conclude season one with Coltrane on the run, as opposed to in handcuffs?
—Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Verb
The officer again tells Timberlake to turn around and handcuffs him.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.
—Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
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
-
According to him, high concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine bind with the body’s mu opioid receptors much more effectively than mitragynine, which can cause dependency.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
The expectations of the triple bind can manifest as a reflection of other people’s perceptions, Hinshaw explained.—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
They are governed by the strong force, which binds protons and neutrons together inside the atomic nuclei.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
-
Semaglutide binds to receptors in the brain, gut, pancreas and other tissues, which is part of why side effects show up across so many organ systems.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
11 June 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 June 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
In Manatí, near a chain of Taíno caves and the Tortuguero Nature Reserve (the island’s only natural lagoon), Efrén David Robles is expanding the idea of what Puerto Rico offers beyond San Juan’s beaches and El Yunque National Forest.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
While HomeGoods is primarily known for its affordable, on-trend selection of furniture, decorative accents, kitchenware, and more, the chain retailer also boasts an incredible selection of delicious snacks that come from all across the globe.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
To address this, Ivo uses a multi-step pipeline that chains together more than 400 model calls for each contract review.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Our systems are overly complex, spanning hundreds of dependencies, which hinders our ability to move fast.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
-
Inertia hinders many consumers from seeking out higher rates.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
There is an alternative to such a view, one which recognizes that there are bonds that connect people within a society.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Daniels was booked in the Collin County Jail in lieu of a $500 bond, according to jail records.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
That experiential angle ties the whole 2026 fragrance conversation together.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
That emphasis on language may seem surprising, but Ingram ties it directly to neuroscience.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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