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
Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Gales also owned a pair of handcuffs, identical to the ones on Kim Thomas’ body, and was seen near the Friedland home the morning of the homicide, Rudolf has said.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Last year, the waiting line at an $80-per-person Dom Perignon Champagne tasting tent got so long that New York magazine restaurant critic Harold Rubenstein was led away in handcuffs, allegedly for trying to push his way in past a Miami Beach cop.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
During his court appearance, the suspect wore the handcuffs that belonged to the fallen officer.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
Late in the film, after a long and tense shot of a man being brought in handcuffs to a prison cell, Depardon cuts to an exterior view of the courthouse, with pedestrians going by.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
For Prince Andrew, his 66th birthday started with a trip to the booking station in handcuffs.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Thompson, who did not speak publicly in court, was led away in handcuffs after the sentencing.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Silva-Parucho, whose handcuffs were ordered to be removed before his hearing began, broke into elated sobs as the judge read the order releasing him.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
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
At one point, a fourth agent retrieved an extra pair of handcuffs.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Gales also owned a pair of handcuffs, identical to the ones on Kim Thomas’ body, and was seen near the Friedland home the morning of the homicide, Rudolf has said.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Last year, the waiting line at an $80-per-person Dom Perignon Champagne tasting tent got so long that New York magazine restaurant critic Harold Rubenstein was led away in handcuffs, allegedly for trying to push his way in past a Miami Beach cop.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
During his court appearance, the suspect wore the handcuffs that belonged to the fallen officer.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026
Late in the film, after a long and tense shot of a man being brought in handcuffs to a prison cell, Depardon cuts to an exterior view of the courthouse, with pedestrians going by.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
For Prince Andrew, his 66th birthday started with a trip to the booking station in handcuffs.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Thompson, who did not speak publicly in court, was led away in handcuffs after the sentencing.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Silva-Parucho, whose handcuffs were ordered to be removed before his hearing began, broke into elated sobs as the judge read the order releasing him.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
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
-
Adam told his fellow Panarchists about our bind, and they were stoked to host one of the world’s wildest bands.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
No fan should be told how to follow their team, nor be scolded for feeling conflicted, especially as Spurs supporters have been put in this unenviable bind by the failings of their club — rather than the other way around.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But maybe in a film as deeply personal as this, in which grief is the glue that binds each scene together, there needn’t be an overarching theme or narrative beyond the desire for remembrance.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2026
-
These dimensions normally cohere in the speaker, which binds a person to their words.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The complaint argues that Harvard’s failure to provide records violates a material term of its federal financial assistance and hampers the government’s ability to complete its review.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 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
-
Afterward, Denver7 heard from Douglas County residents, including a Parker woman who feels the move hinders productive conversations around local issues and is merely a way for the commissioners to dodge criticism and accountability.—
thedenverchannel.com,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023, which hinders his ability to communicate.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood on the Saturday before Halloween, officers arrested a man and triggered a chain of events that ended with them shoving a father in a yellow duck costume to the ground and breaking the ribs of a 67-year-old resident.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The driver of a northbound vehicle veered into the southbound lanes, hitting one car head-on and causing a chain-reaction crash, authorities said.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Operating the facility safely will require close to 100 staff members, which directly ties to the broader recruitment and retention challenges at the Sheriff’s Office.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Dark, moody walls make the natural-wood bench and light floors stand out; a charming white dome pendant light ties the space together.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Aid groups say the true war death toll could be many times higher, as the fighting in vast and remote areas impedes access.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But the rulebook states a goal would be disallowed if an attacking player impedes the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely and defend the goal.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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