HANDCUFFED Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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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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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

Footage also captured Fusaro allegedly naked with Raymond while she was handcuffed to a bed, per the outlet. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 16 Oct. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for handcuffed

Adjective

That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to your home to find charred remains after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to the charred remains of your home after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of helpless

Verb

Creating lightweight device Neuroscientists studying behavioral brain activity have long been hampered by tethered equipment that kept laboratory animals locked in place.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
That uncertainty leaves the Chargers trying to get anything out of an offense hampered by the limitations of what's available to them right now in what increasingly looks like a lost season.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampered

Adjective

After 60 days, the researchers reported that treated pigs could stand and walk on all four limbs, while controls remained paralyzed.

— Mike McRae October 21, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
In 1995, however, Reeve, a competitive equestrian, had a devastating accident, breaking his spine while riding, and becoming paralyzed for the rest of his life.

— Kate Aurthur, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of paralyzed

Verb

In southwest Washington, polling has indicated the congressional race may be essentially tied.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Polls showed Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and rightist challenger Flávio Bolsonaro were in effect tied ahead of Sunday’s runoff, with the result potentially coming down to which candidate’s supporters stay away from the ballot box.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of tied

Verb

In his ruling, Judge Joseph Montano found that prosecutors had impeded grand jurors who wanted to hear from defense witnesses.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Oct. 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.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of impeded

Adjective

The age-old advice of keeping your passwords secure and being wary of suspicious emails is more important than ever as hackers gain more sophisticated tools and use AI to find more of the internet’s weak points.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Analysts expect profits and assets to cover the dividend through weaker timber periods.

— Sebastien Chasse, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of weak

Verb

One even got in trouble and is shackled to a wooden pillory, serving as an example to others who disobey the crown and engage in piracy.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
On Tuesday, Davis appeared in court shackled in handcuffs and wearing a navy blue prison uniform.

— Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of shackled

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“Handcuffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handcuffed. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of handcuffed

adjective

verb

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