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

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffs
  1. bind
  2. binds
  3. chain
  4. bond
  5. curb
  6. shackle
Noun
  • But their story also offers a glimpse into the bind that some nonfiction filmmakers are facing in a cost-cutting, risk-averse market.
    Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
  • From reductions in absentee ballot boxes to limitations to casting an emergency ballot on Election Day, voters will have fewer options and will be in a bind if their schedules change at the last minute due to the 2021 passing of S.B. 202.
    Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2024
Definition of bind
Verb
  • There isn’t an invisible thread that binds everything in terms of genre or subject matter or a particular type of character.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024
  • Lectins are a type of protein that binds to carbohydrates and resist being broken down in the gut, which can lead to digestion issues including stomach pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea, per Harvard.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024
Definition of binds
Noun
  • Their cutbacks on spending forced a reckoning among restaurants, with fast-food brands like McDonald’s leaning into value menus and full-service chains like Red Lobster embarking on ambitious makeovers.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Taco Bell has been proactive in using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram (META) to engage with users, and the Tex-Mex chain has even gone so far as to let customers vote through the Taco Bell app on which menu items should make a comeback.
    Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Definition of chain
Noun
  • Smollett was arrested and faced a felony charge of disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report and was released on bond.
    Megan Thomas, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
  • English was charged Monday and remained in the Crawford County Detention Center on Thursday on a $150,000 bond, according to Crawford County Sheriff's Office and court records.
    Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of bond
Noun
  • With its curbs adorned with hearts, clubs, spades and diamonds, the new circuit also paid homage to Vegas’ status as gambling mecca.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
  • For those who know that wellness begins with moisturized skin, Levoit’s humidifier curbs dry winter air and is also 22% off right now.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of curb
Noun
  • The apron system applies taxes and shackles to fat-wallet franchises.
    Jerry Brewer, Washington Post, 9 July 2024
  • These resettable cable luggage locks are a best-seller for a reason: The easy-to-set three digit combination is enforced by a cable lock, which is stronger than normal lock shackles.
    Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Handcuffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffs. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on handcuffs

Nglish: Translation of handcuffs for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of handcuffs for Arabic Speakers

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