binds 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bind
1
as in ties
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains prisons tend to bind convicted criminals for transport

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2
as in bandages
to cover with a bandage bind the wound to stop the bleeding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in threads
to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord bind the asparagus spears carefully before packing the bunches

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

binds

2 of 2

noun

plural of bind
1
as in pickles
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape with our vacation week fast approaching, and no arrangements for the care of our pets, we were in a serious bind

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2
as in chains
something that physically prevents free movement the store owner held the would-be burglar in a makeshift bind until the police officers could arrive

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of binds
Verb
Also, a decision by a federal appeals court binds federal district courts within its jurisdiction—here, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming—and serves as influential precedent elsewhere. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Because microorganisms in water turn regular mercury into methylmercury, a toxic chemical form that binds tightly to fish tissue, the heavy metal accumulates to higher levels in aquatic animals. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 The Model Context Protocol’s authorization specification binds an access token to the server it was issued for and requires servers to reject tokens that were not. — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026 The emulsifier binds the components together and leads to a smooth, complete melt. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 There’s a whole literary multiverse that now binds many of his stories that didn’t exist at the time of Carrie. — Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026 That’s what binds all our projects together — moving past short-termism, which is a danger with AI. — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026 Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance that binds to cholesterol in the intestine and removes it from the body in stool. — Md Published, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2026 Where does that leave the gruesome project that binds them together? — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
There’s a lot of deus ex machina resolution of tight binds, things that happen off-screen and are waved away. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for binds
  1. ties
  2. pickles
  3. chains
  4. hampers
  5. predicaments
  6. handcuffs
  7. constrains
  8. dilemmas
Verb
  • Directed by the Spanish filmmaking duo Los Javis, the drama ties together three time periods to explore the history of gay male desire across nearly 100 years.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • However, the app isn't anywhere near as in-depth as the latest Googlebook OS software, which seamlessly ties your computer to your Android phone and is available across five new laptops.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ties
Noun
  • The dip's base combines cream cheese and white beans, blended smooth with either kosher dill or bread-and-butter pickles, depending on the flavor.
    — Beret Leone, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Sauces and pickles checked in the walk-in cooler are at 42 degrees.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of pickles
Noun
  • The protection of American jobs justified the chains of bondage, or so the argument went.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Luke Sharrett | Bloomberg | Getty Images For many fast-food chains, beverages have become a critical way to attract consumers.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of chains
Verb
  • But the inability a company to buy ads hampers a campaign’s visibility and removes a key tool that studios use to spread the word about a movie currently in theaters.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This lushness is truly remarkable on an island known for its volcanic soil, which traditionally hampers plant growth.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of hampers
Noun
  • The relentless rain associated with Hurricane Isaias didn’t stop some hikers from venturing onto trails and greenways in North Carolina, leading to life-threatening predicaments, officials say.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • On the screen, in a series of daredevil adventures, the actor had extricated himself from a hundred impossible predicaments.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of predicaments
Noun
  • Muñoz was put in handcuffs in his pajamas and taken into federal custody downtown.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • After hours of torture, Chamberlain managed to free one of her hands from a pair of handcuffs with her teeth, unclip a leather leg restraint and quietly bolt out the door as Evonitz slept.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of handcuffs
Verb
  • The trailer shows Elisabeth, the Empress of Austria (Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu), fighting for her heart, health and voice, as the Viennese court constrains her.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This further constrains the supply of homes available to buyers.
    — Sheldon H. Jacobson, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of constrains
Noun
  • But aspects such as strong characters, emotional investment, aspirational and authentic journeys, contemporary tensions, real moral dilemmas and complex relationships are what keep you there.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • More broadly, the premiere sets up a deepening of Common Side Effects’ many dilemmas.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of dilemmas

Browse Nearby Words

bindle stiffs
binds
binge
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Cite this Entry

“Binds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/binds. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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