binds 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bind
1
as in ties
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains prisons tend to bind convicted criminals for transport

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2
as in bandages
to cover with a bandage bind the wound to stop the bleeding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in threads
to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord bind the asparagus spears carefully before packing the bunches

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binds

2 of 2

noun

plural of bind
1
as in pickles
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape with our vacation week fast approaching, and no arrangements for the care of our pets, we were in a serious bind

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2
as in chains
something that physically prevents free movement the store owner held the would-be burglar in a makeshift bind until the police officers could arrive

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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 binds
Verb
Citrate is a molecule that binds to calcium to keep calcium kidney stones from forming. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 25 Aug. 2026 Because the Fourth Circuit includes North Carolina, Cabarrus officials have said the ruling binds the district. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026 To prevent this leaching, stale urine was used as a mordant—a chemical that binds to the dye and the cloth, acting as a molecular bridge between the two while protecting the color from breaking down from exposure to light, water, and rinsing. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 The provider binds the account, agent and task in an authorization record and digitally signs it, allowing the retailer and payment service to verify who issued it and whether it has been altered. — Aashis Luitel, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 Together, the three women are forced to confront old wounds and find out whether what still binds them is strong enough to keep them from sinking. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 Self-exclusion in particular only binds licensed operators, which is why offshore sites target people who have signed up for it. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 This then binds to specific serotonin receptors in the brain, which temporarily rebuilds the networks involved in memory, emotions and cognition interact. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Aug. 2026 According to the researchers, cGMP also binds to a protein that transports cholesterol within cells, reducing the cholesterol available for essential cellular functions. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
There’s a lot of deus ex machina resolution of tight binds, things that happen off-screen and are waved away. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for binds
  1. ties
  2. pickles
  3. chains
  4. hampers
  5. predicaments
  6. handcuffs
  7. constrains
  8. dilemmas
Verb
  • Banda recorded her second assist of the year and ninth career regular-season helper, which ties her with Alex Morgan for second-most in club history.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But now, the cutter has become the rug that ties Melton’s room together.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of ties
Noun
  • The meat from Kafi BBQ is locally sourced from halal farms and everything from the barbecue sauce, bread and pickles are made in-house at the restaurant.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
  • All of these have enough body and heft to stand up to the moisture from the pickles without turning watery in an hour or two.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pickles
Noun
  • Not to mention, few studios have purchased cinemas even after the Department of Justice rescinded the 1948 Paramount Consent Decrees, which previously disallowed studios from owning movie theater chains.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The movies will screen at about 200 AMC locations, among other chains.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of chains
Verb
  • That marks a 37% increase from the same time last year, as the Iran war hampers oil supply.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The lack of open pores in the soil also hampers the movement of air and water.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of hampers
Noun
  • Aemond, too, for that matter, while Daemon’s arrogance continues to get Team Black into all sorts of predicaments.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.
    — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026
Definition of predicaments
Noun
  • The confrontation continued into the hallway, where security officers pinned Miller face-down to the floor and placed him in handcuffs.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Video taken after Jando’s arrest shows him being escorted in handcuffs by a squad of Mexican commandos.
    — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of handcuffs
Verb
  • Fiscal Dominance Changes The Objective Fiscal dominance describes a regime in which the scale of public debt and deficits constrains monetary policy.
    — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Advertisement The trouble with military hegemony The dominant role of Pakistan’s military further constrains political space.
    — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of constrains
Noun
  • Summary Major League Baseball has finally resolved its decades-long stadium dilemmas for the Oakland A's and Tampa Bay Rays.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The Sussexes’ return presents the royal family with many dilemmas, said Hilary Rose in The Times.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of dilemmas

Browse Nearby Words

bindle stiffs
binds
binge
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Cite this Entry

“Binds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/binds. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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