ties up

VERB

hamper, hinder

Synonyms

WEAK

bind clog confine curb delay entrammel fetter hog-tie hold leash limit lock up obstruct restrain restrict shackle stop tie one's hands trammel

Antonyms

WEAK

aid assist encourage free help

VERB

hamper

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bind clog lock up

WEAK

confine curb delay entrammel fetter hinder hog-tie hold leash limit obstruct restrain restrict shackle stop trammel

Antonyms

STRONGEST

free

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Prison officer John Sneddon is part of the team at Barlinnie's Link Centre that ties up the loose ends prisoners leave behind on the outside.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

Inventory sitting in warehouses ties up capital and if demand doesn’t shape up as planned, having to discount hurts margins, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 7, 2025

“It ties up a lot of rental housing that would be for families,” she said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 22, 2023

But the need to earmark funds for self-insurance ties up money on the balance sheets of coal companies and could leave them vulnerable to large costs when something goes wrong, industry analysts say.

From Reuters • Aug. 31, 2023

They are tied up in a blue bed-gown which is tied by a sash, which again ties up the bed-gown of the carrier.

From From Sea to Sea Letters of Travel by Kipling, Rudyard