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

Like at his Moxie’s restaurant in Southlake, the menu appeals to local diners who want something a notch better than chains.

— Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
The store that matches its habits to its real customers beats the one copying whatever the chains are doing this quarter.

— Elie Y. Katz, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of chain

Noun

The nano-container challenge The concept is promising, but sensitivity remains a major obstacle.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
The Bolsonaro reaction Flávio Bolsonaro, by contrast, criticizes Brazilian democratic institutions – particularly the Supreme Court and the electoral system – as obstacles to restoring the country’s political order.

— Andre Pagliarini, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

Whole lives are neatly bound in tidy language, conveyed within the confines of a page or two.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
An interplanetary human race seemed only decades away, and TV was bound to explore the possibilities, though both British and American networks felt that science fiction didn’t appeal to audiences.

— Neil Oseman, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of bind

Verb

This hampers several of my favorite performances, especially Harper, whose Ben is full of sarcastic indignation, and June Laporte as Ginny, an aspiring reporter in need of proper mentoring.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
After injuries hampered his senior season, Bass-Moore encouraged her son to finish his final year of high school and not enroll early at Notre Dame.

— Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of hamper

Noun

What is left is the bond of a group of women who survived this beautifully flawed universe together, who leave behind twenty-plus years of laughter, chaos, and guilty pleasures for millions of people.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
But the council must still take steps before public funding can be used for the project, including approving the issuance of bonds to fund the $600 million package.

— Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of bond

Noun

Propulsion presents another major hurdle, with researchers involved in the project highlighting the engine core, air intake, and exhaust system as key areas requiring further development.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
But bureaucratic hurdles, such as long customs checks, and infrastructure that wasn’t designed to handle so much volume have produced massive traffic jams.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of hurdle

Verb

Nearly all members of Florida’s Legislature voted to put the amendment on the ballot, though some Democrats expressed concern about tying the state’s hands by restricting the chunk of money.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
That man stayed ready throughout, and was always in his suit and tie and took it very seriously—but also kept some levity in the back of it.

— Samantha Bergeson, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of tie

Verb

The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team's efforts to get information.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
The board’s original August notice alleged that visitors parked along private streets and could impede residents or emergency vehicles.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of impede

Browse Nearby Words

mana

manacle

manacled

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Style

“Manacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manacle. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of manacle

noun

verb

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