Synonyms of tying up

tying up

verb

variants or tieing up

present participle of tie up

as in impeding

to create difficulty for the work or activity of

an accident is tying up traffic at 5th and Broadway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impeding
• hampering
• hindering
• interfering (with)
• embarrassing
• holding back
• obstructing
• handicapping
• holding up
• giving a hard time
• blocking
• inhibiting
• cramping one's style
• delaying
• cramping
• clogging
• disrupting
• encumbering
• restraining
• manacling
• stymieing
• hobbling
• handcuffing
• shackling
• fettering
• constraining
• tying
• bogging (down)
• trammeling
• short-circuiting
• binding
• hog-tying
• thwarting
• frustrating
• checking
• curbing
• hedging (in)
• braking
• reining
• retaining
• hemming (in)
• stifling
• balking
• retarding
• tethering
• leashing
• choking
• chaining
• 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 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

Much of the penultimate episode is about tying up loose ends and spending some wholesome time together before the eliminations inevitably begin, and … honestly, everyone is just getting along pretty well. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 July 2026

From a customer standpoint, no traveler has ever chosen a flight based on who holds the title to the aircraft, so airlines quietly stopped tying up capital to own them. — Mushfig Aliyev, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Council member Johnathan Duncan, who represents the Sixth District, questioned whether entering another stadium project negotiation is tying up too much of the city’s tax revenue. — Dylan Lysen june 30, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026

Nearly 40% of calls handled by Sacramento’s emergency medical services system were non-emergencies, tying up ambulances and paramedics, delaying urgent medical responses and adding nearly $5 million in costs to the city, according to a city audit. — Reeti Malhotra may 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026

As many spread awareness to avoid tying up a dog outside, Ezra's owner is hoping someone can help. — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 19 May 2026

Thirty seconds later, Faber’s shot from the point ticked off Heiskanen’s glove and past Oettinger, tying up the game 1-1. — Michael Russo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Mubadala has recently become one of the most aggressive Gulf sovereign wealth funds, embarking on a dealmaking spree, tying up with some of the biggest names in global finance, and taking a more active role leading on investments rather than being a passive capital provider. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Apr. 2026