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
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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
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2026
The cold metal handcuffs dug into my wrists.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
What went into the decision to conclude season one with Coltrane on the run, as opposed to in handcuffs?
—Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Other facial recognition wrongful arrest cases Angela Lipps is not the first person to say facial recognition helped put them in handcuffs.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Tucker’s rapid-fire delivery is punctuated with sound effects, music cues, and the use of a variety of props dangling from his person at all times (including handcuffs, a wad of cash, and two guns).
—Malina Saval, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The discovery was made May 12 at the home of Wayne Leslie Briggs in Murphy, where deputies also found handcuffs and leg shackles, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mark Price
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Ortiz sat quietly in the courtroom Wednesday wearing an orange jail uniform and handcuffs.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
According to the reports, prosecutors said Torbick was then heard screaming at Motykie to get off her and telling him not to put handcuffs on her.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.
—Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
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
He was placed in handcuffs and taken away.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2026
The cold metal handcuffs dug into my wrists.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
What went into the decision to conclude season one with Coltrane on the run, as opposed to in handcuffs?
—Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Other facial recognition wrongful arrest cases Angela Lipps is not the first person to say facial recognition helped put them in handcuffs.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Tucker’s rapid-fire delivery is punctuated with sound effects, music cues, and the use of a variety of props dangling from his person at all times (including handcuffs, a wad of cash, and two guns).
—Malina Saval, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The discovery was made May 12 at the home of Wayne Leslie Briggs in Murphy, where deputies also found handcuffs and leg shackles, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mark Price
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Ortiz sat quietly in the courtroom Wednesday wearing an orange jail uniform and handcuffs.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
According to the reports, prosecutors said Torbick was then heard screaming at Motykie to get off her and telling him not to put handcuffs on her.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Verb
The officer again tells Timberlake to turn around and handcuffs him.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.
—Omar Kelly
march 8, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
While state law seemingly handcuffs local officials into approving solar projects, Richmond said residents and board members need to work together to fight solar power plants.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
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
-
Analysts have tried to forecast how much academic carnage will result from this demographic bind.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
-
Policymakers are now in bind, caught between coercion from abroad and coercion generated at home.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
To retain the remaining six members, the Mountain West offered a distribution plan for the incoming exit and poaching fees in exchange for signing a grant of rights that binds them to the conference for six years.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
The web of hospitality here binds residents of all ages together for a fulfilling and memory-rich lifestyle.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Over time, this erodes trust, hampers innovation and increases attrition.—
Kapil Jain,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
20 May 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
-
Current dependence on rare earth elements or precious metals often hinders the widespread adoption of electrolysis systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
Making every decision for your teenager hinders their ability to build independence.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Kelce wore a charcoal-gray plaid suit paired with a black T-shirt and a chain necklace.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
Inside was the set for Metro Designers, an outlet of Christie Smith’s clothing chain, which sells monochromatic clothes—one color per month.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Quentin Tarantino’s The Whole Bloody Affair ties together both volumes of Kill Bill into a four-and-a-half-hour experience, complete with intermission.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
-
Fresh off the first MVP season of his 17-year NFL career, the Los Angeles Rams signed Matthew Stafford to a one-year, $55 million contract extension that ties him to the Rams through the 2027 season with $105 million in remaining compensation, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
State and federal agencies don’t track data around vitamin K injection refusal or subsequent bleeding, which impedes their ability to quantify and track outcomes, including death.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
-
Let go of whatever impedes your progress.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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