tied-up 1 of 2

adjective

as in engaged
involved in often constant activity we'll be tied-up with work for the next several days

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tied up

2 of 2

verb

past tense of tie up
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of an accident is tying up traffic at 5th and Broadway

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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 tied-up
Verb
Knot theory is about all the different ways a piece of string can be tied up, with its two loose strands glued together after the tying. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 23 July 2026 The Phillies tied up the game in the bottom half of that fifth inning. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 Capital tied up in escrow reduces immediate proceeds and creates tension. — Bhaskar Ahuja, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Cities and towns across China in recent years have been pushing for more local events or niche industries to stimulate spending and draw tourists – an increasingly urgent effort as many local government budgets are tied up with debt repayment. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 July 2026 Ellis also questioned whether the city’s push to extend six of its TADs is even legal if more than 10% of Atlanta’s tax base is currently tied up in the taxing districts. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 16 July 2026 Almost all of Scott’s fortune is tied up in Amazon stock, and Amazon has been on a historic run. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 16 July 2026 Mbappe tied up the Golden Boot race at eight goals apiece with a goal in the second half against Morocco in the quarterfinals. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 While distribution for Being Heumann is already tied up with Apple through CODA director Heder’s overall deal with the platform, both Prima Facie and The Assassin(s) will be looking to tie up North American and international deals on the ground. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tied-up
  1. engaged
  2. hampered
  3. busy
  4. hindered
  5. diligent
  6. impeded
  7. occupied
  8. embarrassed
Adjective
  • Retirees who stay engaged, maintain relationships, and pursue meaningful activities often find more satisfaction than those who simply step away from work without a clear plan for what comes next.
    — Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Keep reading to discover new ways to help kids stay engaged and on top of their learning.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of engaged
Verb
  • But even use of that system is being hampered because state officials haven’t been trained in how to enter cyclosporiasis cases yet.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • The search was hampered by the fact that Horan’s gravestone, like many at Blake Street, had eroded to the point that it could no longer be identified.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026
Definition of hampered
Adjective
  • The pair is busy with the remodeling of the building that’s going to be the home for their new restaurant and are excited to share a part of African cuisine with the Keller community.
    — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
  • The company expects that the hospital would see 20 to 30 patrons on a typical day and 30 to 50 patrons on a busier one, the letter said.
    — Rose Evans July 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026
Definition of busy
Verb
  • Many neurodivergent people aren’t hindered by their autism and may not need or want intervention.
    — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • Lars Moravy, vice president of vehicle engineering, said Tesla has a good relationship with NHTSA and does not expect to be hindered by federal regulations.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of hindered
Adjective
  • All of this, the trio says, was a combination of diligent preparation on Jay’s orders and the spontaneity of bringing in guests across the evenings, including Eminem, Rihanna, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 20 July 2026
  • Children in particular are unfamiliar with the signs of heat illness and require guardians to be diligent of their temperatures and hydration needs.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado Updated July 17, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of diligent
Verb
  • Technological precision impeded the potential of inspiring victories from the likes of Iran, Croatia, and Egypt.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 20 July 2026
  • The result is a meditative action movie both immense and intimate, albeit one whose flow is impeded by the inherently episodic nature of the nonlinear source material and some questionable casting choices.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Definition of impeded
Adjective
  • From a remote hilltop just north of Nablus, the view stretches across the occupied West Bank.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Funerals were scarcely allowed in occupied Bershad, and public prayers for the dead were virtually impossible, said Shternshis.
    — Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
Definition of occupied
Verb
  • One month later, Europe embarrassed the United States on American soil at the Ryder Cup.
    — Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
  • The suitors embarrassed themselves one by one, until Antinous demanded Penelope simply choose the best of them.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Definition of embarrassed

Browse Nearby Words

tied (together)
tied-up
tied up
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Cite this Entry

“Tied-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tied-up. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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