1
: something (such as a manacle or fetter) that confines the legs or arms
2
: something that checks or prevents free action as if by fetters
—usually used in plural
3
: a usually U-shaped fastening device secured by a bolt or pin through holes in the end of the two arms
4
: a length of cable or anchor chain of usually 15 fathoms
shackled; shackling
ˈsha-k(ə-)liŋ 
2
: to deprive of freedom especially of action by means of restrictions or handicaps : impede
Synonyms
Examples of shackle in a Sentence
Noun
placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners
the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons
Verb
The guard shackled the prisoner.
unwilling to shackle the dogs to the wall of the house
Recent Examples on the Web
The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Mauney’s dogs and a pair of shackles, believed to be Meade’s, were found at Henderson’s home, state police said.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 22 Mar. 2024
The ex-deputy walked away sobbing, red in the face and looking down, shackles around his waist and wrists.
—Emma Tucker, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
McAlpin was brought into the courtroom of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, offering a nod to his family members in attendance.
—Tom Junod, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
While detainees are commonly shown climbing the steps in handcuffs and the waist chains that secure them, the videos often cut to a new shot before leg shackles can make an appearance.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 8 Mar. 2024
Also in the display is a shackle and chain, representative of the slave trade, donated to the museum by a Wisconsin woman in January 2023.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2024
Basically, the more players break the shackles of Zenoiran tyranny, the more sophisticated, flexible and powerful the Liberation Army gets.
—Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024
In order to place a person who has just given birth within the last three days in shackles, the bill says several criteria must be met:
There is a substantial flight risk or medical or security circumstance that requires the use of constraints.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2024
Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 8 Mar. 2024
At his sentencing last month, Ethan Crumbley, wearing thick black glasses and shackled in an orange jumpsuit, listened to victim impact statements in which survivors refused to use his name.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2024
While researchers unearthed 40 adults and 5 children buried there, the remains of one man stood out: A long nail could be seen stuck through the heel, and the legs showed signs of infection or inflammation, possibly from being bound and shackled.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2024
Some of these elections will be widely considered fair, such as those already held in Taiwan and Finland; others are likely to have a thumb on the scale, with leaders shackling opponents and the media, as in Rwanda.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024
After capturing the man, officers cuffed his hands behind his back and shackled his legs, the indictment said.
—Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2024
James, who was shackled, then stepped toward the judge’s bench.
—Emily Davies, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024
During pregnancy, her mother was shackled during medical appointments, while being transferred in vans between facilities, as well as during her delivery, West-Schroder explained to the Journal Sentinel.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2024
Now, cuffed and shackled, Keldy was a criminal defendant, charged with a misdemeanor.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2024
Noun
The decision to reclaim funereal black may have been sparked by her determination to shuck off the shackles of mourning.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Mauney’s dogs and a pair of shackles, believed to be Meade’s, were found at Henderson’s home, state police said.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 22 Mar. 2024
The ex-deputy walked away sobbing, red in the face and looking down, shackles around his waist and wrists.
—Emma Tucker, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
McAlpin was brought into the courtroom of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, offering a nod to his family members in attendance.
—Tom Junod, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
While detainees are commonly shown climbing the steps in handcuffs and the waist chains that secure them, the videos often cut to a new shot before leg shackles can make an appearance.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 8 Mar. 2024
Also in the display is a shackle and chain, representative of the slave trade, donated to the museum by a Wisconsin woman in January 2023.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2024
Basically, the more players break the shackles of Zenoiran tyranny, the more sophisticated, flexible and powerful the Liberation Army gets.
—Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024
In order to place a person who has just given birth within the last three days in shackles, the bill says several criteria must be met:
There is a substantial flight risk or medical or security circumstance that requires the use of constraints.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2024
Verb
In 2017, passengers on a deportation flight to Somalia said they were left bound and shackled in their seats for 23 hours during a stopover, some forced to soil themselves because they were denied bathroom visits.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 8 Mar. 2024
At his sentencing last month, Ethan Crumbley, wearing thick black glasses and shackled in an orange jumpsuit, listened to victim impact statements in which survivors refused to use his name.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2024
While researchers unearthed 40 adults and 5 children buried there, the remains of one man stood out: A long nail could be seen stuck through the heel, and the legs showed signs of infection or inflammation, possibly from being bound and shackled.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2024
Some of these elections will be widely considered fair, such as those already held in Taiwan and Finland; others are likely to have a thumb on the scale, with leaders shackling opponents and the media, as in Rwanda.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024
After capturing the man, officers cuffed his hands behind his back and shackled his legs, the indictment said.
—Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2024
James, who was shackled, then stepped toward the judge’s bench.
—Emily Davies, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024
During pregnancy, her mother was shackled during medical appointments, while being transferred in vans between facilities, as well as during her delivery, West-Schroder explained to the Journal Sentinel.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2024
Now, cuffed and shackled, Keldy was a criminal defendant, charged with a misdemeanor.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shackle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near shackle
Cite this Entry
“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shackle. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shackle
1 of 2 noun
shack·le
ˈshak-əl
1
: a ring or band that prevents free use of the legs or arms
2
: something that prevents free action
—usually used in plural
3
: a U-shaped metal device for joining or fastening something
shackle
2 of 2 verb
shackled; shackling
ˈshak-(ə-)liŋ
1
a
: to bind with shackles
the guard shackled the prisoner
b
: to make fast with a shackle
2
: to deprive of freedom of action : hinder
shackled by poverty
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