as in bind
usually handcuffs plural
something that physically prevents free movement
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to bind
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 to impede
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 handcuff
Tal Axelrod, Axios, 20 May 2025
During a tense stand off, Rykov found the keys to his handcuffs and ran away from the gunfire, with Hondo chasing after him.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 17 May 2025
Moná Thomas, People.com, 27 May 2025
The younger Combs and his brother, Justin, were temporarily handcuffed and detained by authorities during the March 2024 search on their father’s home.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Noun
Drumbeat calls for repercussions in the Epstein case — among others — are not going anywhere, and the administration will likely have to answer to the base until some handcuffs click.
—Tal Axelrod, Axios, 20 May 2025
During a tense stand off, Rykov found the keys to his handcuffs and ran away from the gunfire, with Hondo chasing after him.
—Esther Kang, People.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
Even after being handcuffed, the passenger continued to behave aggressively, repeatedly banging her head against the bus window.
—Moná Thomas, People.com, 27 May 2025
The younger Combs and his brother, Justin, were temporarily handcuffed and detained by authorities during the March 2024 search on their father’s home.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuff
Noun
-
Some frustrated residents say the bureaucratic bind is emblematic of long-standing discrimination.—
Stephanie Yang,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
-
On Rikers, a thicket of laws and lore, regulations and culture bind and barnacle decision-making.—
Elizabeth Glazer,
New York Daily News,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
Well, as referenced above, the United States was coming out of a nasty recession tied to the crisis in the mortgage market.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
The investment fund tied to the Qatari state has spent billions on the operations and players.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
The affair did not impede Smotrich’s ascent as a settler activist and politician.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
-
Any action that impedes these dynamics should be flatly rejected because unnecessarily regulating a competitive marketplace will only harm consumers.—
Michael Santorelli,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
The Wegmans grocery chain has also improved the customer experience by using the GS1 Digital Link.—
Benjamin Claeys,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
When his family was out of town, Baumeister, who owned the Sav-A-Lot shopping chain, would go to gay bars across the Indianapolis area and allegedly find men to bring home.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2025
-
Online shopping has been severely hampered at the retailer due to outages to its website that are expected to last into July.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
He has been charged with a collision involving damage to a vehicle and hindering apprehension, both misdemeanors.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2025
-
However, incomplete knowledge of prolonged symptoms experienced after a young child’s own SARS-CoV-2 infection hinders prevention and treatment of LC in infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.—
Anuradha Varanasi,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
The fear of losing your career, your livelihood, and your future in an industry can shackle women to their abusers for years in the same way physical restraints do.—
Bridgette Carr,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2025
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In a country shackled and scarred by race, religion, gender, and class, the Disciples were genial revolutionists offering inclusion, education, and empowerment for those at the margins.—
Richard D. Mahoney,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
McGregor dismantled Aldo during the pre-fight lead-up and subsequently embarrassed him in 13 seconds at UFC 194 in 2015.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
But Mei is convinced her overbearing mother only exists to embarrass while never understanding her struggles.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuff. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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