Home › Words › H › handgaghandgaghandgag means to silence (a person) by placing one's hand over their mouth.EtymologyHand + gagverbTo silence (a person) by placing one's hand over their mouth.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Words closest in meaningBy meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.ungag 59% match — To release from a gag. vs handgag →handglove 59% match — A glove. vs handgag →handbagging 58% match — A verbal attack or criticism. vs handgag →gagged 58% match — Astonished; stunned. vs handgag →estrangle 58% match — To strangle. vs handgag →handcuffing 56% match — The act by which somebody is handcuffed. vs handgag →unclap 56% match — To remove (one's hand clapped over one's mouth, or similar). vs handgag →buttonhole 55% match — A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one. vs handgag →