1
as in chain
usually manacles plural
something that physically prevents free movement
manacles prevented the bear from roaming beyond a very small area
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the warring groups need to shake off the manacle of their troubled past and learn to live with one another in peace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
manacled the prisoner to the wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hamper
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
in this situation, the police are manacled by unnecessary regulations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manacle
Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024
During the trial, Wilber wore a manacle around his ankle and a stun belt on his arm.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022
Brown turned Milwaukee’s defense from manacle to meme.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2022
How to Be an Antiracist is a journal of Kendi's efforts to free himself of the ideological manacles clamped upon him by a society suffused with white supremacism, capitalist exploitation, misogyny and the repression of unconventional sexuality.
—Dallas News, 26 Aug. 2019
From every officer’s belt there dangled an insectlike furl of disposable plastic manacles.
—Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
The genie is literally the slave of the lamp, his power bracelets actually manacles keeping him obedient to an endless round of masters.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 12 June 2019
But beyond the frenzied mix of hormones and alcohol is an intense curiosity in the outside world, one that noisily landed three weeks ago on the doorsteps of Russians, unfiltered and free from the manacles of politics.
—Amie Ferris-Rotman, Washington Post, 9 July 2018
The cellar dungeons were complete with bolts, chains and manacles for securing captives to the floors.
—Jonathan W. White, Smithsonian, 27 Feb. 2018
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 July 2024
Rubio hammered home his argument that there’s no daylight between Cuba’s lack of justice and Trump’s own trial, with a video featuring a military official manacled and brought before a crowd of more than 15,000 in the Havana Sports Palace arena.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2024
The scandal is that, instead of doing his duty, the attorney general manacled his own Justice Department’s investigation.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 July 2023
His hands were manacled to a chain belt at his waist, and his feet were bound by leg irons.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 4 Dec. 2019
During those endless days and nights, everything was done to break his will: solitary confinement, pressure to confess by cruel supervisors and the humiliation of being manacled while receiving medical attention.
—Ariel Dorfman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2018
They are filmed in lingering close-up as the opening credits roll, a montage of them manacling the wrists, ankles, necks, and dreams of African American men.
—Rochelle Riley, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2018
Early practitioners in literary study, the history of language, and anthropology were often ideologically manacled by the cultural mores that encased their object of study.
—Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 25 Oct. 2017
Although the new territory bolstered his neo-Soviet reclamation project, retaliatory sanctions from the West manacled the Russian economy.
—Jack Dickey, SI.com, 10 July 2017
Noun
Beneath it, on the left side of the page, was a picture of Jackson in manacles.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024
During the trial, Wilber wore a manacle around his ankle and a stun belt on his arm.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022
Brown turned Milwaukee’s defense from manacle to meme.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2022
How to Be an Antiracist is a journal of Kendi's efforts to free himself of the ideological manacles clamped upon him by a society suffused with white supremacism, capitalist exploitation, misogyny and the repression of unconventional sexuality.
—Dallas News, 26 Aug. 2019
From every officer’s belt there dangled an insectlike furl of disposable plastic manacles.
—Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
The genie is literally the slave of the lamp, his power bracelets actually manacles keeping him obedient to an endless round of masters.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 12 June 2019
But beyond the frenzied mix of hormones and alcohol is an intense curiosity in the outside world, one that noisily landed three weeks ago on the doorsteps of Russians, unfiltered and free from the manacles of politics.
—Amie Ferris-Rotman, Washington Post, 9 July 2018
The cellar dungeons were complete with bolts, chains and manacles for securing captives to the floors.
—Jonathan W. White, Smithsonian, 27 Feb. 2018
Verb
Drugged, kidnapped, and manacled while a pitiless killer wears her face.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 July 2024
Rubio hammered home his argument that there’s no daylight between Cuba’s lack of justice and Trump’s own trial, with a video featuring a military official manacled and brought before a crowd of more than 15,000 in the Havana Sports Palace arena.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2024
The scandal is that, instead of doing his duty, the attorney general manacled his own Justice Department’s investigation.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 July 2023
His hands were manacled to a chain belt at his waist, and his feet were bound by leg irons.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 4 Dec. 2019
During those endless days and nights, everything was done to break his will: solitary confinement, pressure to confess by cruel supervisors and the humiliation of being manacled while receiving medical attention.
—Ariel Dorfman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2018
They are filmed in lingering close-up as the opening credits roll, a montage of them manacling the wrists, ankles, necks, and dreams of African American men.
—Rochelle Riley, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2018
Early practitioners in literary study, the history of language, and anthropology were often ideologically manacled by the cultural mores that encased their object of study.
—Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 25 Oct. 2017
Although the new territory bolstered his neo-Soviet reclamation project, retaliatory sanctions from the West manacled the Russian economy.
—Jack Dickey, SI.com, 10 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manacle
Noun
-
Baskin-Robbins: The ice cream shop chain has two special Mother's Day cakes – The Perfect Peony Cake and the Strawberries ‘n Cream Cake.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
-
The doughnut chain had originally planned to sell its sweet treats at all of McD’s 13,000 restaurants.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Players utilize a set of common rules -- that can be altered by the game master -- and dice to overcome obstacles as the group works to collaboratively tell a story.—
Remington Miller,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2025
-
Apparently not: whatever obstacles there may have been before, the original group will be performing together for the first time in three and a half decades this weekend, at the behest of Goldenvoice, for the promoter’s annual Cruel World festival in Pasadena.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
Post yourself up at hotels like The Carlyle or The Mark, and you’re bound to catch a glimpse of one of your favorite singers or actors.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
4 May 2025
-
The spacecraft was bound for Venus, but an issue with a timer cut an engine burn prematurely, which ultimately left the spacecraft stuck in Earth’s orbit.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
3 May 2025
Verb
-
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 May 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
She was later released from custody on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on May 27.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2025
-
In the process, he’s become a beloved figure in the clubhouse, overcoming a language barrier to form bonds with a wide range of players that includes everyone from Ohtani to Mookie Betts.—
Dylan Hernández,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Other hurdles, such as charging infrastructure and consumer education, remain.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
13 May 2025
-
Despite the logistical hurdles, the experience left a profound impact on the actor.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
The Waters/Agassi partnership ground out rallies but the teenagers persevered and tied the match.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
-
But in the third period, Colorado gained steam from Nichushkin to tie it, then Nathan MacKinnon to pull ahead.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
-
Scientists believe early exposure to this content may hinder children's understanding of consent and respect in relationships.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 May 2025
-
The Transport Workers Union argued the petition would hinder safety.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manacle. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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