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
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
Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Minutes later, Dominguez was in handcuffs, seated at the curb, as a chiming ice cream truck drove past.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025
Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Nicole Brown, formerly of the Westminster Police Department, suffered a head injury in 2022 while attempting to handcuff a suspect and was later placed on disability.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
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Noun
Last year, on May 18th, Scottie Scheffler's PGA Championship experience took an unexpected turn as he got dragged away from the event in handcuffs.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Minutes later, Dominguez was in handcuffs, seated at the curb, as a chiming ice cream truck drove past.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025
Verb
By Melissa Gomez and Rachel Uranga May 24, 2025 3 AM PT
The man just had his immigration case dismissed and his wife and 8-year-old son were trailing behind him when agents surrounded, then handcuffed him outside the downtown Los Angeles courtroom.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Nicole Brown, formerly of the Westminster Police Department, suffered a head injury in 2022 while attempting to handcuff a suspect and was later placed on disability.
—Rachel McRady, People.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for handcuff
Cite this Entry
“Handcuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handcuff. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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