handcuffed 1 of 2

adjective

as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose handcuffed by a dearth of funding, the preservation society can do little but stand by as these historic structures deteriorate

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handcuffed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of handcuff
1
as in bound
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 hampered
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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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 handcuffed
Verb
Advocates are fighting to ensure that two potential witnesses who were handcuffed in the back of an ICE vehicle that struck and injured a Houston man are not deported. — David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026 The two pulled the boy to the ground by his sweatshirt and handcuffed him, police records show. — Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 The two exchanged gunfire before Todd shot and handcuffed Hasan, ending the rampage. — Meagan Harris, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 He was handcuffed, and his head and body were wrapped in a gray blanket. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026 In a Russian state TV video report, three masked men in black uniforms handcuffed ​a man lying on the ground as a voice off camera said he was suspected of spying. — CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 The incident ended when two other officers arrived to restore order, at which point Lopez was handcuffed, Kremer previously told The Times. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Video shows the suspect sitting handcuffed on the ground as officers arrive. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Armed and hooded, the gang was waved in by Black and surprised, subdued, and handcuffed the other security guards. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffed
  1. helpless
  2. bound
  3. hampered
  4. paralyzed
  5. tied
  6. impeded
  7. weak
  8. shackled
Adjective
  • The moment when the couple’s infant child is taken from them by the authorities is devastating, each of them capturing a sense of helpless isolation from themselves, their community and each other.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But the funding cuts mean more and more families like Zarmina's are left helpless.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of helpless
Verb
  • The Smart Streets program was first launched in November 2024 in an area bounded by Roosevelt Road, Ashland Avenue, North Avenue, and Lake Michigan.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Another good sign, less than a minute later, was when Kessler got an offensive rebound and bounded back up for a dunk.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bound
Verb
  • The domestic economy is otherwise moribund, hampered by bad debts and a shrinking labor force.
    — RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Special teams miscues and penalties once again hampered the Rams in a game that featured three touchdown passes by Matthew Stafford and a career-best 17 catches by Puka Nacua.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hampered
Adjective
  • Hasan was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in the back by law enforcement and now uses a wheelchair.
    — Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • When her aunt Helena and paralyzed grandmother Regina arrive, the fragile boundaries between everyday life, ancestral superstition and Trina’s increasingly disturbing nightmares begin to collapse.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of paralyzed
Verb
  • As betting has become more widespread, some bettors have taken to social media to harass players for their game performance that may be tied to a bet.
    — Jessica Golden,Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While her sculptural dress commanded attention with its plunging neckline and exaggerated peplum waist, her shoes provided a sleek, minimalist finish that tied the entire look together.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tied
Verb
  • The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team's efforts to get information.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team’s efforts to get information.
    — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of impeded
Adjective
  • The makeup is top-tier, the Aaliyah swoop bang is swooping, and the jewelry accents stand out without doing too much, which is usually her weak spot.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Brennan's maiden win came at the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship in November against an admittedly weaker field.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of weak
Verb
  • On Tuesday, Davis appeared in court shackled in handcuffs and wearing a navy blue prison uniform.
    — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Pike also remained in restraints (handcuffed and shackled to her bed), which complicated her care.
    — M. Sara Rosenthal, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of shackled

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Handcuffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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