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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffs
Noun
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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
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This medication binds to and removes excess iron or copper from the body, helping prevent further liver damage in conditions like hemochromatosis and Wilson disease.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
8 Apr. 2025
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Now the new study, led by UNM professor Brent Wagner, MD, has found a connection between gadolinium and oxalic acid, a molecule found in foods which binds with metal ions, leading to medical issues such as kidney stones.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Grads react as billionaire gives them $1,000: Watch video Yelp unveils its top 25 burger chains in the US: See the list Spotify reveals predictions for 30 top songs of summer 2025: See list Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Likewise, in the same sector, Kaufland and Lidl, two supermarket chains, are owned by the same family under the tutelage of the Schwarz Group, each specializing in specific market segments.—
Radu Magdin,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Let go of whatever impedes your progress and growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
2 Mar. 2025
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However, any individual who impedes law enforcement operations, potentially threatening the safety of law enforcement agents and subjects of their investigations, is subject to investigation and potential prosecution by the Department of Justice.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Featuring continuous, interlocking lines, the popular motif symbolizes infinity, the eternal nature of life, unity and bonds of loyalty.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Ponder is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond, according to the jail’s inmate listing.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Experts say the vessels are being used by Russia to circumvent curbs on its oil exports.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 May 2025
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On top of perhaps not following through on parts of Trump's deal while adding more tariffs, China has also pressured the US to end AI chips curbs by threatening more countermeasures, Reuters reported.—
Ashley Belanger – May 23,
ArsTechnica,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Related article Rory McIlroy could go onto win 10 majors now Masters ‘shackles are off,’ says men’s captain of his hometown golf club There’s a reason for McIlroy to be so confident heading into the second major of 2025.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
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The story, the characters, and even the genre are all vastly different, but that’s what ultimately frees it from the shackles of an intense fandom’s expectations.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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