Synonyms of tying up

tying up

verb

variants or tieing up

present participle of tie up

as in hampering

to create difficulty for the work or activity of

an accident is tying up traffic at 5th and Broadway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hampering
• impeding
• hindering
• interfering (with)
• embarrassing
• holding back
• obstructing
• handicapping
• holding up
• giving a hard time
• blocking
• cramping one's style
• inhibiting
• delaying
• cramping
• clogging
• encumbering
• disrupting
• manacling
• stymieing
• restraining
• hobbling
• handcuffing
• shackling
• fettering
• constraining
• tying
• bogging (down)
• trammeling
• short-circuiting
• binding
• hog-tying
• checking
• thwarting
• frustrating
• curbing
• hedging (in)
• braking
• reining
• retaining
• hemming (in)
• balking
• retarding
• stifling
• tethering
• leashing
• chaining
• choking
• arresting
• barricading
• strangling
• blockading
• baffling
• haltering
• sabotaging
• confining
• foiling
• derailing
• suffocating
• miring
• roadblocking
• smothering
• stumping
• repressing
• muzzling
• suppressing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helping
• assisting
• facilitating
• aiding
• opening
• making way
• clearing
• releasing
• freeing
• liberating
• promoting
• unplugging
• smoothing
• loosening
• encouraging
• unclogging
• unstopping
• furthering
• untying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tying up

The henchmen are tying up loose ends after eliminating Kerry’s father, who informed on the Gotham crew to avoid serving his prison sentence. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2026

For the people who loved the Detroit native and aspiring actress -- her mother, Katie Mattic, and sisters Jean Neal, Frances Douglas, Vivian Mattic and Virgie Binford -- that means tying up the loose ends of Margaret's life. — Nicole Avery Nichols, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026

In addition to tying up first responders, data center fires are costly affairs for taxpayers, as property tax abatements mean nearby residents — not data center owners — can be the ones fronting the bill whenever the fire company gets a call. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026

The ordeal closed much of the eastbound freeway for more than three hours during the evening commute, tying up surface streets across Sacramento’s grid and around Sacramento State. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Early in September, everything from finishing tasks to tying up loose ends takes precedence. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Richardson turned his back to her and appeared to be tying up the string of his pants, Gutierrez said. — Molly Hensley-Clancy, ProPublica, 1 Sep. 2026

For example, a local retailer can combine sales history, seasonal trends and inventory data to identify which products to reorder and which are tying up cash. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The episode centered on the botched transfer of crime boss Heath Everett (Jeffrey Vincent Parise), but true fans were more glued to the love story tying up between Winter’s Tim Bradford and Melissa O’Neil’s Lucy Chen. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026