shackle

noun shack·le \ ˈsha-kəl \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

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

After more than three hours of recesses, asides and private conferences on Thursday, Nolan re-entered the courtroom in shackles and asked the judge to recuse herself.

— scott wartman, Cincinnati.com, "Tim Nolan, judge accused of human trafficking, trying to withdraw guilty plea: 'What is going on?'," 29 Mar. 2018
Each defendant wore wrist, waist and ankle shackles and thin white paper jumpsuits with no pockets for the court appearance.

— Fox News, "Alleged MS-13 members charged after yearlong Vegas killing spree, police say," 29 Mar. 2018
After the meeting in a forest of Finland, the Wings were more committed than ever to their promise to free Konstantinov from his Soviet shackles.

— keith gave, Detroit Free Press, "Russian Five: How Konstantinov faked cancer to join Detroit Red Wings," 26 Mar. 2018
When Smith entered in shackles, the man nearest the center aisle struggled to get to his feet as his companion tried to hold him back.

— michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "'The devil gave you a shovel to dig your own grave,' mom says to son's killer in courtroom poem | Charlotte Observer," 22 Mar. 2018
The point, that a record deal can feel like shackles, is a familiar one.

— spencer kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Atlanta's Perfect Satire of the Music Industry in 2018," 20 Mar. 2018
Still another myth is the country’s purported freedom from the shackles of the EU, which Switzerland has refused to join.

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 2018
Authoritarianism is also reappearing in places like Hungary and Poland that barely a quarter-century ago shook loose the shackles of Soviet oppression.

— steven lee myers, New York Times, "With Xi’s Power Grab, China Joins New Era of Strongmen," 26 Feb. 2018
Members of Rainey's family sat in the front row and comforted one another as the man who killed her sat nearby, dressed in an orange jumpsuit and shackles.

— marie simoneaux, NOLA.com, "'We will forever hurt': Victim's aunt says as man sentenced to 20 years in 2008 killing," 26 Feb. 2018

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

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

Poland and Hungary, once viewed as triumphs of democracy flowering in post-Soviet soil, have shackled the media, cracked down on public gatherings, and attacked the independence of their court systems.

— peter s. goodman, New York Times, "The Post-World War II Order Is Under Assault From the Powers That Built It," 26 Mar. 2018
Shomari Legghette, 44, clad in an orange jail jumpsuit with his hands shackled, made his initial appearance before Cook County Judge Erica Reddick, who was randomly assigned Monday to handle the case.

— megan crepeau, chicagotribune.com, "Four-time felon pleads not guilty in killing of Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer," 12 Mar. 2018
Mason’s withering defense shackled the Cougars, holding them to 10 field goals and allowing no individual to reach double figures.

— mark schmetzer, Cincinnati.com, "Mason shuts down Mount Notre Dame to advance to regional final," 7 Mar. 2018
Twenty years ago, a historic settlement between tobacco firms and 46 states shackled the smoking trade in the United States.

— peter grier, The Christian Science Monitor, "Will NRA follow the path of Big Tobacco?," 6 Mar. 2018
The Somalis told of abuse on the flight, saying they were shackled with chains on their wrists, waists, and legs for more than 40 hours; forced to urinate in bottles or on themselves; and that ICE officers beat and threatened some passengers.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Democratic committees divided over playing in primaries, with Texas as ground zero," 5 Mar. 2018
However, Dutton said pregnant women in county jails may be shackled while being taken to a hospital for medical appointments and procedures.

— morgan watkins, The Courier-Journal, "It's legal in Kentucky to shackle pregnant prisoners during labor, but maybe not for long," 21 Feb. 2018
Children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks.

— ana veciana-suarez, miamiherald, "Speaking up can be scary, but in some cases it’s the best course of action | Miami Herald," 22 Jan. 2018
At least three of the children were shackled to furniture with chains and padlocks, authorities said.

— melissa chan, Time, "Puppies Found Healthy in California House of Horrors Are Up for Adoption, Officials Say," 19 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of shackle

15th century

shackle Synonyms

Synonyms

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, stymie, tie up, trammel;

Antonyms

aid, assist, facilitate, help;

Near Antonyms

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop;

free, liberate, release, untie;

loosen, smooth;

encourage, further, promote;

bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie;

arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard;

barricade, block, blockade, roadblock;

bog (down), mire;

choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate;

baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart;

derail, disrupt, sabotage;

muzzle, repress, suppress;

confine, hedge (in), hem (in);

Phrases

cramp one's style, give a hard time;

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

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