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
Shelly Kittleson, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Alfred was put into handcuffs, and police said there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from him.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
He was then handcuffed and detained at the NYPD's 79th Precinct in Bed-Stuy and was ultimately charged.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Noun
The handcuffs were removed, and one of the men pulled down my sleeves to cover the cuts and bruises on my arms.
—Shelly Kittleson, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
Alfred was put into handcuffs, and police said there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from him.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
LaSota, who was handcuffed at the scene and brought to police headquarters for questioning, was never charged in the incident.
—Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
He was then handcuffed and detained at the NYPD's 79th Precinct in Bed-Stuy and was ultimately charged.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuff
Noun
-
Yet with tropical countries approaching the year’s first planting season, prices for key commodity crops haven’t yet budged, putting farmers in a bind.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Years of ignoring improper payments while promoting more program enrollment at all costs have now put the Commonwealth’s taxpayers in a bind.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bregman wasn’t fazed by it, slugging a game-tying home run in the eighth inning Friday for his first marquee moment in a Cubs uniform.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Up next The Hawks head to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday for Game 5 with the series tied 2-2.—
Lauren Williams,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Critics, meanwhile, say the legislation would impede on First Amendment rights.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Do not stop on the roadway or impede traffic.—
Devarrick Turner,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An aspiring author had sent Hoover their manuscript, also copying a fraudulent email impersonating Hoover on the email chain.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That means following the full chain of activity — from those who target homeowners to anyone inside the system who may be enabling or overlooking fraudulent transfers.—
Darlene Mealy,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The intensity of the flames and the resulting smoke, compounded by the fact that the fire spread over the area mostly after dark, hampered the aerial firefighting strategy.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rams boss Les Snead and Chiefs leadership tandem Andy Reid and Brett Veach don’t seem hindered by obstacles either, despite later draft slots and paying future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Store them in one layer to avoid crushing, and keep them in cool, dry conditions in the fridge to hinder mold growth.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stocks were lower at the open on Wednesday, and bonds also sold off.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
He is scheduled for a bond hearing on May 6, People reported.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Syrian authorities on Friday arrested Amjad Yousef, a former intelligence officer who appeared in a video leaked four years ago that appears to show him and his comrades executing dozens of blindfolded and shackled prisoners in the Damascus suburb of Tadamon during the civil war.—
Ghaith Alsayed,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Carvajal’s name was absent from the top of the January indictment unsealed on the morning Maduro arrived shackled in New York with Flores.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuff. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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