handcuffs 1 of 2

noun

Definition of handcuffsnext
plural of handcuff
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

Relevance

handcuffs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of handcuff
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffs
  1. bind
  2. binds
  3. chain
  4. impedes
  5. bond
  6. curb
  7. shackle
Noun
  • His massive contract — and its salary cap ramifications — has put the Browns in a bind in terms of improving their roster.
    Chantz Martin, Fox News, 7 Dec. 2024
  • The machinists’ decision to reject a new contract that offered a 25% raise will put the planemaker in a serious bind.
    Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 16 Sep. 2024
Definition of bind
Verb
  • While a cold or flu virus usually only affects your respiratory tract, COVID binds to things called ACE2 receptors that can be found all over, from your gut to your brain.
    Julia Sullivan, SELF, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Among its many benefits, soluble fiber binds to cholesterol in your small intestine, blocking its absorption.
    Johna Burdeos, Health, 4 Dec. 2024
Definition of binds
Noun
  • Make extra chains to use in garlands, on mantels, and around doorways.
    Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The popular chicken chain's subsidiary, Chick-fil-A Supply, is behind the 270,000-square-foot project and aims to wrap up construction by 2026.
    Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of chain
Verb
  • Unfortunately, this impedes the creative process and results in an uneven end product.
    Jerry Weissman, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
  • This draconian ban impedes humanitarian efforts, prevents 100,000 Korean Americans from seeing their family and cuts off the only current avenue for people-to-people contact essential to peacemaking.
    Christine Ahn, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of impedes
Noun
  • After staying in a hospital, he was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail with a bond set at $2.25 million.
    Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Dali was released on a recognizance bond Dec. 6 with mandatory GPS monitoring and a curfew.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of bond
Noun
  • What to know: Residents should bring their last hurricane waste items to the curb.
    Kathryn Varn, Axios, 12 Dec. 2024
  • According to Pinterest, rich red hues are in, kicking neutrals to the curb.
    Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of curb
Noun
  • Ultimately, while the dream that humanity will be freed from the shackles of labor and freed to pursue a life of leisure and creativity is attractive, the leap to this utopian state is far from guaranteed.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
  • The fact that the Catholic Church held so much sway over the Republic of Ireland’s political institutions for so long ensured that, once the shackles were loosened, the South more or less speedran the entire postwar era in the past 30 years.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
Definition of shackle
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near handcuffs

handcuffing

handcuffs

hand down

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on handcuffs

Nglish: Translation of handcuffs for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of handcuffs for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...