shackle 1 of 2

shackle

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb shackle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shackle are clog, fetter, hamper, manacle, and trammel. While all these words mean "to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting," shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice
a people manacled by tyranny

When is it sensible to use clog instead of shackle?

Although the words clog and shackle have much in common, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When is fetter a more appropriate choice than shackle?

The meanings of fetter and shackle largely overlap; however, fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

When might hamper be a better fit than shackle?

While in some cases nearly identical to shackle, hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

When would trammel be a good substitute for shackle?

While the synonyms trammel and shackle are close in meaning, trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shackle
Noun
But Eze joined Arsenal shortly before the transfer window closed this summer, and Wilfried Zaha is no longer at the club, so there are fewer shackles for him. Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 Routh returned to the courtroom in shackles with no signs of blood on his shirt, the AP reported. Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
His arms were restrained to the bed and his feet were shackled together at the ankles. Rick Jervis, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025 In footage from inside the building, the detainees could be seen running while handcuffed and their legs shackled, some falling to the ground amid the rush to get away from the gunfire. Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shackle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle
Noun
  • Around 2013, Hewson was part of an email chain of around twenty researchers working on the problem.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • As for accessories, Stewart added a silver chain necklace to her ensemble with a small padlock motif.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • It’s been speculated Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk fired Callahan this week to sidestep the embarrassment of Vrabel schooling his successor Sunday.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Minnesota has become the laughingstock of America — the embarrassment of our nation.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • At the very least, a major influx of new cast members are bound to shake up the series third season, which will pick after the dramatic killing of a beloved character, the arrest of another, and the breakup between two more.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The families remain close, bound by the boating tragedy.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Food crumbs and debris can hinder gas flow or cause uneven burning.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Can what’s hindering the Chargers’ defense be fixed in only a matter of days?
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The personalized letter bracelet (up to five characters) is a more minimalist design.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Following the Pandora Talisman campaign drop in August, Tyla accessorized her vintage Chanel minidress for the MTV VMAs with pieces from the collection, layering a bevy of Pandora Talisman necklaces and bracelets to complement her look.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But formidable obstacles remain in the way of a durable peace in Gaza, where a ceasefire collapsed in March after nearly two months of relative calm when Israel unleashed a barrage of airstrikes.
    Alexander Cornwell, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
  • But even with these obstacles, oddsmakers seem to believe the Bucs have plot armor.
    J.J. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The beloved couple of Ruzek and Burgess — known as Burzek — tied the knot in the season 12 finale.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • In the bottom of the seventh inning, with runners on second and third with nobody out, George Springer stepped to the plate with the chance to tie a 3-1 ball game in favor of the Seattle Mariners, a team desperate for its first-ever World Series appearance in franchise history.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Since pre-shredded cheeses are coated in anti-caking agents that can impede melting, our Test Kitchen recommends grating your own cheese from a block or wedge.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Martinez was charged in federal court with forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer.
    Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackle. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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