variants
or tieing 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tying up
That high mortgage payment reduces monthly cash flow, tying up more income that might otherwise be used for other investments.
—
Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
Instead of tying up resources on certain things, perhaps a drone and then the AI assistant, for a phone call, can handle that situation.
—Ryan Oehrli
updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
At its height, the deployment represented 20% of the Navy’s surface fleet, tying up critical assets even as crises were flaring elsewhere in the world.
—Jamie Tarabay, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Mercury retrograde later in the month encourages solitude, forgiveness, and tying up loose emotional ends.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
His strategies often involve exploiting legal loopholes and tying up loose ends in court.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
On the first goal in question, Lohrei could have gotten a little more help from Tanner Jeannot in tying up Jonah Gadjovich’s stick, but AJ Greer beat Lohrei to the loose puck and then Jeremy Swayman to the shortside.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Djerf admitted to tying up Patricia and Damien Luna, who were the only ones at home.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Now, the election outcome is being challenged, tying up the proceedings with the National Labor Relations Board, and leaving workers in limbo for an indefinite period until a decision is finalized by the government agency.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
Instead of tying up resources on certain things, perhaps a drone and then the AI assistant, for a phone call, can handle that situation.
—Ryan Oehrli
updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
At its height, the deployment represented 20% of the Navy’s surface fleet, tying up critical assets even as crises were flaring elsewhere in the world.
—Jamie Tarabay, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Mercury retrograde later in the month encourages solitude, forgiveness, and tying up loose emotional ends.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
His strategies often involve exploiting legal loopholes and tying up loose ends in court.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
On the first goal in question, Lohrei could have gotten a little more help from Tanner Jeannot in tying up Jonah Gadjovich’s stick, but AJ Greer beat Lohrei to the loose puck and then Jeremy Swayman to the shortside.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Djerf admitted to tying up Patricia and Damien Luna, who were the only ones at home.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Now, the election outcome is being challenged, tying up the proceedings with the National Labor Relations Board, and leaving workers in limbo for an indefinite period until a decision is finalized by the government agency.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tying up
Verb
-
Japan’s aging population is a long-running issue, impeding economic growth and putting immense pressure on the public coffers.—
Junko Ogura,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
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The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some lawmakers think the staff reductions are hampering farmers’ ability to access programs.—
Patricia Kime,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
A number of airlines have halted flights to Dubai, hampering travel and freight transport.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, tariff threats from the US — Nigeria’s third-largest export market — and inflationary pressures caused by the war in Iran risk hindering that progress.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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High new housing inventory, together with elevated construction costs because of import tariffs and shortages of labor due to an immigration crackdown are hindering single-family home construction.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These are embarrassing own goals that Republicans simply can’t afford.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Fairchild played the free-wheeling bon vivant Nora Tyler Bing on five episodes of the sitcom classic, unwittingly embarrassing Perry's Chandler Bing to the delight of his pals.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Claire, holding back tears, attempts CPR.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Women’s sports is no different, and placing expectations for greater decorum on it is a way of holding back the game’s growth.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the time, the Department of Homeland Security said Rahman was arrested for obstructing federal officers.—
Chloe Rosen,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Jennings was charged obstructing a government operation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tying up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tying%20up. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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