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
Relevance
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 tying up
As the escape-room activity kicks off — the guests have 30 minutes to find Aesha’s crew — the boys find plenty of opportunity to make insinuating jokes about tying up the girls, some (Coop) more wholesome than others (Luke).
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 June 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
This online collection included images of mutilation and tying up women with ropes, two things prosecutors said are consistent with injuries inflicted on Mack and how she was bound, officials said.
—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Massachusetts authorities are searching for an armed suspect accused of robbing a $20 million mansion and tying up a housekeeper in an elaborate heist.
—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 June 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
This online collection included images of mutilation and tying up women with ropes, two things prosecutors said are consistent with injuries inflicted on Mack and how she was bound, officials said.
—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Massachusetts authorities are searching for an armed suspect accused of robbing a $20 million mansion and tying up a housekeeper in an elaborate heist.
—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tying up
Verb
-
Florida’s sanctuary city laws forbid local governments from impeding ICE from doing its job, such as by not sharing information with the federal government.
-
Fifteen people, most of them Minnesotans, were arrested and charged last week, accused of impeding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Verb
-
Critics argue that the approach risks hampering Europe’s competitiveness.
-
The sanctions are hampering work on a broad array of investigations at the court.
Verb
-
This raises concerns as companies reduce entry-level hiring, hindering the development of crucial tacit knowledge.
-
Over the decades the O’odham placed some barbed wire along the border to keep livestock from straying into the neighboring country, limiting the spread of maladies such as foot-and-mouth disease and hindering cattle thieves.
Verb
-
Ukraine has carried out major drone strikes on Russia’s two largest cities, embarrassing the Kremlin with images of black plumes of smoke that circulated widely online, despite regulations restricting their publication.
-
But in this case, the ejection was absolutely unnecessary and, frankly, embarrassing for Lentz.
Verb
-
The skill most likely holding back your influence isn't a missing tactic.
-
One of the few signs of contraction in the Nevada labor economy came in government jobs, which fell over the past year, holding back what would have been an even stronger expansion.
Verb
-
Within Venezuela, activists have accused authorities of obstructing relief efforts.
-
The passenger rail service said that eight cars and two locomotives derailed after striking the dump truck that was obstructing the crossing.
Verb
-
Who else was astute enough to recognize the potential of a Sun Devil when handicapping hypothetical mascot fights?
-
Because no one knows with clarity how things will proceed from here, handicapping the market becomes an exercise in watching for extreme conditions to develop that price in enough potential economic disruption to generate a cushion against further downside surprises.
Cite this Entry
“Tying up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tying%20up. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
