shackle

play

noun shack·le \ ˈsha-kəl \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of shackle

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

See shackle defined for English-language learners

See shackle defined for kids

Examples of shackle in a Sentence

placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners
the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons

Recent Examples of shackle from the Web

Any time Kirkland leaves his cell at the jail, Rose said, shackles are used and two guards escort him.

— kevin grasha, Cincinnati.com, "Serial killer's brain scans could play role in death penalty decision," 24 Aug. 2017
Paul Pogba has revealed how the arrival of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea has released him from his defensive shackles and allowed him the license to get forward more.

— SI.com, "Paul Pogba Explains How He's Already Reaping the Benefits of Man Utd New Boy's Midfield Presence," 24 Aug. 2017
In addition to requiring federal prisons to provide pads and tampons, the bill prohibits putting pregnant women in shackles or solitary confinement.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "Federal Prisons Are Finally Giving Women the Dignity of Free Tampons," 15 Aug. 2017
During the show's first run, Audrey became beloved for breaking the shackles of the spoiled-girl stereotype to become sharp, youthful foil for Dale (and a minor love interest, too).

— tom philip, GQ, "The Best Nostalgic TV Knows That It's 2017," 10 Aug. 2017
The military arranged a sofa and two armchairs around a shackle point inside.

— carol rosenberg, miamiherald, "Guantánamo admiral wants to raze a prison facility for a base recreation spot," 14 July 2017
Peterson also put limits on the use of handcuffs and shackles at the prison.

— patrick marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Judge orders reduction in use of solitary confinement at Wisconsin's teen prison," 10 July 2017
Shadreck Chikoti is one such writer from Malawi who is breaking traditional storytelling shackles and moving into the realms of fantasy.

— osman mohamed osman, CNN, "Sudanese author Bushra al-Fadil wins Caine Prize," 4 July 2017
Why wouldn’t tell the story of a people who arrived on these shores in shackles, and now spend over $1 trillion dollars a year?

— solomon jones, Philly.com, "Older black people have let younger generation down," 4 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shackle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of shackle

Middle English schakel, from Old English sceacul; akin to Old Norse skǫkull pole of a cart

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

shackle Synonyms

Synonyms

band, bind, bracelet, chain, cuff (s), fetter, handcuff (s), irons, ligature, manacle (s), bond

Related Words

captivity, confinement, constraint, curb, enchainment, enslavement, hindrance, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, restriction; entanglement, net, trammel, trap; collar, straitjacket (also straightjacket); fastener, hobble, hold, hold-down, holding, tie

Near Antonyms

catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus; advantage, break, edge; aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden (also handmaid), help

shackle

verb

Definition of shackle

shackled; shackling play \ˈsha-k(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

1 a :to bind with shackles :fetter

b :to make fast with or as if with a shackle

2 :to deprive of freedom especially of action by means of restrictions or handicaps :impede

—

shackler

play \ˈsha-k(ə-)lər\ noun

See shackle defined for English-language learners

Examples of shackle in a Sentence

The guard shackled the prisoner.
unwilling to shackle the dogs to the wall of the house

Recent Examples of shackle from the Web

Houli Chemlal was shown being escorted into the court by police, shackled, with one armed bandaged and wearing hospital pajamas.

— chicagotribune.com, "Barcelona suspect said terror cell planned to bomb monuments in city," 22 Aug. 2017
Appearing before Hartford Superior Court on Tuesday Judge Matthew J. Budzik, Williams-Wal was shackled at her ankles and wrists, wearing a white, paper jumpsuit.

— mikaela porter, Courant Community, "Police: Victim Of West Hartford Stabbing Says Incident Arose From Back-To-School Shopping Argument," 17 Aug. 2017
So House conservatives are shackled to the Senate so long as Republicans fall short of a super-majority in that chamber.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Congress Is Playing Chicken With a Debt-Limit Increase — and It Could Be the End of the Filibuster," 8 Aug. 2017
And maybe his 13-year, $325 million contract would shackle the parsimonious Marlins for a generation, damning them to perennial fourth-place finishes.

— jack dickey, SI.com, "The Marlins won't compete this year, but they might in 2018," 18 July 2017
If books could only be moved a limited distance from the shelves or lecterns to which they were shackled, the reading of the books had to take place right there.

— lily rothman, Time, "Game of Thrones Made It Abundantly Clear Why Real Medieval Libraries Chained Their Books," 17 July 2017
Aramazd Andressian Sr., hands shackled at his waist, appeared before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Cathryn Brougham, who set bail at $10 million and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Aug. 16.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Father pleads not guilty to killing son, 5, who vanished in April," 3 July 2017
Beyond a headline-grabbing 2.4 billion euro ($2.7 billion) fine EU antitrust regulators have leveled against Google, the Internet giant is likely to be shackled for years by Tuesday's precedent-setting decision defining the company as a monopoly.

— reuters, Fortune, "What Google’s $2.7 Billion EU Fine Means for Android and AdSense Cases," 29 June 2017
The approvals—the first time since the annual tests began in 2011 that all banks got passing grades—reflect a turning point for big financial institutions that have been shackled by tighter regulation since the 2008...

— gerard baker, WSJ, "The 10-Point.," 29 June 2017

First Known Use of shackle

15th century

shackle Synonyms

Synonyms

chain, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, bind, trammel

Antonyms

unbind, unfetter, unshackle

Related Words

bit, hobble, hog-tie, iron, lash, secure, tie, truss; attach, fasten, join, link; confine, constrain, curb, hamper, hinder, impede; limit, restrict; entangle, tangle

Near Antonyms

emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue; undo, unfasten, untangle, untie; detach, disengage

Synonym Discussion of shackle

hamper, trammel, clog, fetter, shackle, manacle mean to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting. hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

- hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

- rules that trammel the artist's creativity

clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

- a court system clogged by frivolous suits

fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

- a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

- a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice
- a people manacled by tyranny

SHACKLE Defined for English Language Learners

shackle

play

noun

Definition of shackle for English Language Learners

: one of two rings or bands that are placed around a person's wrists or ankles and that are connected by a chain
shackles : something that prevents people from acting freely

shackle

verb

Definition of shackle for English Language Learners

: to put shackles on (someone or something)

SHACKLE Defined for Kids

shackle

play

noun shack·le \ ˈsha-kəl \

Definition of shackle for Students

1 :a ring or band that prevents free use of the legs or arms

2 :something that prevents free action

The country was freed from the shackles of oppression.

shackle

verb

Definition of shackle for Students

shackled; shackling

1 :to bind or fasten with a ring or band placed on the legs or arms

2 :to prevent free action

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See words that rhyme with shackle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shackle Spanish Central: Translation of shackle Nglish: Translation of shackle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shackle for Arabic speakers

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