tying up

verb

variants or tieing up
present participle of tie up
as in hampering
to create difficulty for the work or activity of an accident is tying up traffic at 5th and Broadway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tying up Zelensky and Merz are tying up a significant defense and industrial partnership, which will see the two countries finalize a deal for the production of drones and missiles. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026 For Garfield, playing Altman was tying up a loose end in his career. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026 Two weeks later, he was accused of tying up, robbing, and killing a man inside a Chicago home. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 The henchmen are tying up loose ends after eliminating Kerry’s father, who informed on the Gotham crew to avoid serving his prison sentence. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2026 For the people who loved the Detroit native and aspiring actress -- her mother, Katie Mattic, and sisters Jean Neal, Frances Douglas, Vivian Mattic and Virgie Binford -- that means tying up the loose ends of Margaret's life. — Nicole Avery Nichols, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026 In addition to tying up first responders, data center fires are costly affairs for taxpayers, as property tax abatements mean nearby residents — not data center owners — can be the ones fronting the bill whenever the fire company gets a call. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026 The ordeal closed much of the eastbound freeway for more than three hours during the evening commute, tying up surface streets across Sacramento’s grid and around Sacramento State. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Early in September, everything from finishing tasks to tying up loose ends takes precedence. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tying up
  1. hampering
  2. impeding
  3. hindering
  4. embarrassing
  5. holding back
  6. obstructing
Verb
  • Kyiv sees this as an attempt to pressure it into concessions by hampering its aerial defense and military operations.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Virus-carrying midges are hampering deer season in South Dakota, where an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease has prompted South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to issue deer license refunds.
    — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of hampering
Verb
  • Rucker says crews arrived to find flames inside the building, but racks inside were impeding their movement and eventually blocked their exits, leading two firefighters to suffer burns.
    — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The insects tunnel their way into the trunk, impeding the tree’s water and nutrient supply and killing it within a year.
    — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of impeding
Verb
  • And warming temperatures are hindering their ability to perform essential functions.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Royce Moser, 18, is facing charges including murder, while his mother, 56-year-old Rachel Moser, is facing charges including hindering apprehension of a fugitive, according to court records.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hindering
Verb
  • My New York neighbors barely said hello; in Singapore, a stranger would probably politely look away rather than risk embarrassing you.
    — Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • After those results went public, embarrassing Muñiz and a few other judges, the Florida Bar stopped conducting surveys and publishing the results … leaving Florida voters with even fewer resources.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Verb
  • Jessica held tightly onto the straps of her backpack, holding back her emotions.
    — Norma Galeana, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Disney and others went through periods of holding back shows to bolster their SVODs.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of holding back
Verb
  • Abiy's office accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement and said that the latest fighting ended in its defeat.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Abiy’s office accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement and said the latest fighting ended in its defeat.
    — Khaled Kazziha, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstructing

Browse Nearby Words

tying (together)
tying up
tyke
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Cite this Entry

“Tying up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tying%20up. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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