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chain

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of chain

1 a series of things linked together

  • the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain
Synonyms of chain

catena, catenation, concatenation, consecution, nexus, progression, sequence, string, train
Words Related to chain

chain reaction

belt, circle, cycle, vicious circle (also vicious cycle)

continuum, gamut, gauntlet (also gantlet), scale, spectrum

flow, river, stream

file, line, queue, range, row, succession

2 something that makes movement or progress difficult

  • this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice
Synonyms of chain

balk, bar, block, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
Words Related to chain

catch, hitch, rub, snag

barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall

arrest, bit, brake, check, constraint, curb, hobble, rein, restraint

embargo, stoppage

delay, holdup, stall

burden, cumber, load

danger, hazard, peril, reef

adversity, difficulty, disadvantage, drawback, hardship
Near Antonyms of chain

catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus

advantage, break, edge

aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden (also handmaid), help

3 something that physically prevents free movement

  • chains on the prisoner's ankles
Synonyms of chain

band, bind, bond, bracelet, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, manacle(s), shackle
Words Related to chain

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

chain

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of chain

1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains

  • chaining up the dog in the backyard
Synonyms of chain

bind, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, shackle, trammel
Words Related to chain

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 of chain

emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue

undo, unfasten, untangle, untie

detach, disengage
Antonyms of chain

unbind, unfetter, unshackle

2 to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole

  • the prosecutor meticulously and brilliantly chained all the evidence together in his closing argument
Synonyms of chain

catenate, compound, concatenate, conjugate, connect, couple, hitch, hook, interconnect, interlink, join, link, yoke
Words Related to chain

articulate, dovetail, integrate, interlock, intermesh

cord, string, wire

cement, coalesce, combine, fuse, unite, weld
Near Antonyms of chain

detach, disengage, divide, part, split

cleave, rupture, sever, sunder
Antonyms of chain

disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, disunite, separate, unchain, uncouple, unhitch, unlink, unyoke

Learn More about chain

  1. See words that rhyme with chain Dictionary: Definition of chain Medical Dictionary: Definition of chain Spanish Central: Translation of chain Nglish: Translation of chain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chain

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