MANACLE Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'manacle' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manacle are clog , fetter , hamper , shackle , 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

Q: When might 'clog' be a better fit than 'manacle'?

Although the words clog and manacle have much in common, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering. // a court system clogged by frivolous suits

Q: When would 'fetter' be a good substitute for 'manacle'?

The words fetter and manacle can be used in similar contexts, but fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost. // a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

Q: When is it sensible to use 'hamper' instead of 'manacle'?

The synonyms hamper and manacle are sometimes interchangeable, but hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence. // hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

Q: When can 'trammel' be used instead of 'manacle'?

The words trammel and manacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net. // rules that trammel the artist's creativity

manacle 1 of 2

noun

ˈma-ni-kəl

Definition of manacle

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

Relevance

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

manacle

2 of 2

verb

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

as in to hamper

to create difficulty for the work or activity of in this situation, the police are manacled by unnecessary regulations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb manacle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manacle are clog, fetter, hamper, shackle, 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 might clog be a better fit than manacle?

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

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When would fetter be a good substitute for manacle?

The words fetter and manacle can be used in similar contexts, but fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

When is it sensible to use hamper instead of manacle?

The synonyms hamper and manacle are sometimes interchangeable, but hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

When can trammel be used instead of manacle?

The words trammel and manacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 manacle

Noun

Speaking to Morgan during an interview released on YouTube on Tuesday, British national Yiannopoulos, 41, recounted how his hands and feet were chained together with manacles. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 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 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 The cellar dungeons were complete with bolts, chains and manacles for securing captives to the floors. — Jonathan W. White, Smithsonian, 27 Feb. 2018

Verb

Shelton’s serve had manacled him just enough; the first set’s effort had tired him just enough. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Once the detainees were on board, agents brought in a van with dozens of women, also manacled, to board next. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 10 June 2025 Drugged, kidnapped, and manacled while a pitiless killer wears her face. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 July 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for manacle

Noun

This chain of reasoning purposefully stokes fear in the hearts of Broward citizens.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Built for government demands BlueChip’s first customers are expected to value durability and supply-chain transparency over portability.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of chain

Noun

For most people in the United States, this probably won't be an obstacle.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
But the world was deprived of this Minimalist presentation of Little Richard when the project foundered at the end of the decade amid financial obstacles and the difficulties of coordinating its all-star cast.

— Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

Underneath that messaging is a feud between the party’s left flank and centrist arm that’s bound to erupt after Tuesday’s results.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Researchers can tune a network’s structure using this self-adjusting behavior, which limits how many neighbors each particle binds to.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of bind

Verb

Ukrainian officials said the restrictions hampered ⁠the military’s ability to intercept Russian attack ⁠drones and forced the cancellation of some operations.

— Reuters, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
The officials said the restrictions were disrupting high-speed military drones, hampering Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attacks and conduct operations along the front line.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of hamper

Noun

The proposition would allow local governments to create economic development districts with the ability to issue bonds, make loans, and award grants of public money.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
The variable part of I bond interest resets every six months, based on the consumer price index.

— Kate Dore, CFP®, EA, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of bond

Noun

One of the main hurdles in dealing with it is the question of authority.

— Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
In practical terms, this means disabled patrons should be able to buy a ticket as easily as anyone else, get into the venue without extra hurdles, move through the space unimpeded, and have a safe place to experience the show.

— Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of hurdle

Verb

But Ostlund scored only Buffalo’s fifth power-play goal of the season midway through the first before Thompson tied it with his sixth goal.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Offscreen, the part tied Koenig to the franchise for the rest of his career.

— Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of tie

Browse Nearby Words

mana

manacle

manacled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Manacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manacle. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of manacle

noun

verb

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