hand·cuff
ˈhan(d)-ˌkəf 
: a metal fastening that can be locked around a wrist and is usually connected by a chain or bar with another such fastening
—usually used in plural
handcuffed; handcuffing; handcuffs
2
: to hold in check : make ineffective or powerless
handcuffed by strict regulations
Synonyms
Examples of handcuff in a Sentence
Noun
the man reluctantly held out his wrists so the policeman could snap on handcuffs
Verb
wanted to take the trip, but was handcuffed by her responsibility to watch her ailing father
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
Photos of Scheffler in handcuffs, followed by his mug shot in an orange jump suit were plastered all over the Internet.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2025
Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
When asked about the prospect of criminal charges in an interview at Empower’s office in McLean, Virginia, last month, Sear appeared unbothered, holding his hands above his head as if being handcuffed.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for handcuff 
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Noun
Twenty-one-year-old Miles Mitchell won the lookalike contest in October — which took a turn when, not only did Chalamet arrive, but so did the NYPD, leaving one of the doppelgangers in handcuffs.
Watch the full promo below.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
Photos of Scheffler in handcuffs, followed by his mug shot in an orange jump suit were plastered all over the Internet.
—Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
Fossil fuel demonstrators splashed paint on Amazon’s outpost — and were briefly handcuffed, DealBook hears.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
When asked about the prospect of criminal charges in an interview at Empower’s office in McLean, Virginia, last month, Sear appeared unbothered, holding his hands above his head as if being handcuffed.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for handcuff
Dictionary Entries Near handcuff
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handcuff. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
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