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
Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2023
Despite being in full restraints — handcuffs, leg shackles and a belly chain — Pray was able to jump into the driver's seat when the hospital employee exited the van to let him out of the back seat, said Fox 12 Oregon.
—Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 16 Oct. 2023
Rotate the shackle back to the lock. Instructions for latch locks:
Turn the dials to the original combination, 0-0-0.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 9 Aug. 2023
When everyone left, Combs removed his shackles, got on an elevator and left the courthouse.
—CBS News, 18 Oct. 2023
The researchers found no shackles, locks or iron grills inside the room (or blocking the doors and windows).
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2023
The defendant with the boyish face stood out from the usual parade of felons ushered into federal court in orange jumpsuits and shackles.
—Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 23 Aug. 2023
He was allowed to attend the funeral in handcuffs and shackles.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2023
And anyone who doesn’t — or who, as Turner has, publicly chafed against the shackles of domesticity by continuing to focus on her career and having a social life — is summarily penalized.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2023
Renuka Rayasam, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
The absence of enforceable laws that would shackle Big Tech doesn’t make these deals a toothless compromise—far from it.
—WIRED, 13 Nov. 2023
Momeni walked in with his wrists shackled, wearing an orange jumpsuit.
—Albert Samaha, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
He was led out with his hands and bare feet shackled, wearing what appeared to be a hospital gown.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2023
Microsoft used network effects to build a winner-take-all system that sucked in new users and shackled them to its platform with high switching costs.
—Cory Doctorow, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
While waiting for local police outside, the teenager was able to walk across the street while still shackled.
—Allie Morris, Dallas News, 30 June 2023
Beneath the structure is a shallow fountain tribute to the men, women and children whose bodies were inhumanely shackled together in the bellies of ships in the transatlantic slave trade.
—Aaron Morrison, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2023
Qi, 34, was shackled in an orange jumpsuit and relied on a Chinese translator.
—Kate Martin, NBC News, 29 Aug. 2023
See More
Noun
Davis appeared in Clark County Court Thursday with a graying beard and in a blue jail jumpsuit and shackles.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2023
Despite being in full restraints — handcuffs, leg shackles and a belly chain — Pray was able to jump into the driver's seat when the hospital employee exited the van to let him out of the back seat, said Fox 12 Oregon.
—Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 16 Oct. 2023
Rotate the shackle back to the lock. Instructions for latch locks:
Turn the dials to the original combination, 0-0-0.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 9 Aug. 2023
When everyone left, Combs removed his shackles, got on an elevator and left the courthouse.
—CBS News, 18 Oct. 2023
The researchers found no shackles, locks or iron grills inside the room (or blocking the doors and windows).
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Aug. 2023
The defendant with the boyish face stood out from the usual parade of felons ushered into federal court in orange jumpsuits and shackles.
—Kevin Krause, Dallas News, 23 Aug. 2023
He was allowed to attend the funeral in handcuffs and shackles.
—Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2023
And anyone who doesn’t — or who, as Turner has, publicly chafed against the shackles of domesticity by continuing to focus on her career and having a social life — is summarily penalized.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2023
Verb
In addition, some incidents in which jailors shackle pregnant people fall into legal loopholes.
—Renuka Rayasam, CBS News, 14 Nov. 2023
The absence of enforceable laws that would shackle Big Tech doesn’t make these deals a toothless compromise—far from it.
—WIRED, 13 Nov. 2023
Momeni walked in with his wrists shackled, wearing an orange jumpsuit.
—Albert Samaha, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
He was led out with his hands and bare feet shackled, wearing what appeared to be a hospital gown.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2023
Microsoft used network effects to build a winner-take-all system that sucked in new users and shackled them to its platform with high switching costs.
—Cory Doctorow, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
While waiting for local police outside, the teenager was able to walk across the street while still shackled.
—Allie Morris, Dallas News, 30 June 2023
Beneath the structure is a shallow fountain tribute to the men, women and children whose bodies were inhumanely shackled together in the bellies of ships in the transatlantic slave trade.
—Aaron Morrison, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2023
Qi, 34, was shackled in an orange jumpsuit and relied on a Chinese translator.
—Kate Martin, NBC News, 29 Aug. 2023
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English schakel, from Old English sceacul; akin to Old Norse skǫkull pole of a cart
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of shackle was
before the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near shackle
Cite this Entry
“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shackle. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on shackle
Nglish: Translation of shackle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of shackle for Arabic Speakers
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