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
Anastasia Boden, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
Body camera footage from the arrest shows Hill being forcibly removed from his car and placed in handcuffs before the Dolphins played against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 27 Nov. 2024
Antonio Planas, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Another video shows a heated exchange between a man and two officers, culminating in the man being handcuffed, visibly bloodied and subdued with a stun gun.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for handcuff 
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.
Noun
Take Dayton, Ohio, where a man was recently put in handcuffs for handing a burrito to a homeless person.
—Anastasia Boden, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
Body camera footage from the arrest shows Hill being forcibly removed from his car and placed in handcuffs before the Dolphins played against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
The officer handcuffs the man, who is lying on his stomach with both hands behind his back.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Another video shows a heated exchange between a man and two officers, culminating in the man being handcuffed, visibly bloodied and subdued with a stun gun.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share