Thesaurus

manacle

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of manacle

1 usually manacles plural something that physically prevents free movement

manacles prevented the bear from roaming beyond a very small area

Synonyms of manacle

band, bind, bond, bracelet, chain, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, shackle

Words Related to manacle

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

2 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 of manacle

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

Words Related to manacle

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 manacle

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

advantage, break, edge

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

manacle

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of manacle

1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains

manacled the prisoner to the wall

Synonyms of manacle

bind, chain, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, pinion, shackle, trammel

Words Related to manacle

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 manacle

emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue

undo, unfasten, untangle, untie

detach, disengage

Antonyms of manacle

unbind, unfetter, unshackle

2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of

in this situation, the police are manacled by unnecessary regulations

Synonyms of manacle

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), obstruct, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel

Words Related to manacle

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain

bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie

arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard

barricade, block, blockade, roadblock

bog (down), mire

choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate

baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart

derail, disrupt, sabotage

muzzle, repress, suppress

confine, hedge (in), hem (in)

Phrases Synonymous with manacle

cramp one's style, give a hard time

Near Antonyms of manacle

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop

free, liberate, release, untie

encourage, further, promote

Antonyms of manacle

aid, assist, facilitate, help

Synonym Discussion of manacle

hamper, trammel, clog, fetter, shackle, manacle mean to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting. hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

- hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

- rules that trammel the artist's creativity

clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

- a court system clogged by frivolous suits

fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

- a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

- a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice
- a people manacled by tyranny

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