1
as in chain
something that physically prevents free movement
placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in embarrassment
shackles plural
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
unwilling to shackle the dogs to the wall of the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hinder
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
shackled by poverty and ignorance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shackle
Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
But Eze joined Arsenal shortly before the transfer window closed this summer, and Wilfried Zaha is no longer at the club, so there are fewer shackles for him.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Rick Jervis, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
In footage from inside the building, the detainees could be seen running while handcuffed and their legs shackled, some falling to the ground amid the rush to get away from the gunfire.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shackle
Noun
Tender Buttons is a celebration of mutability, a rejoinder to rules, where words are set free from the shackles of meaning and grammatical function, made unfamiliar, and charged with power to make the world afresh.
—Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
But Eze joined Arsenal shortly before the transfer window closed this summer, and Wilfried Zaha is no longer at the club, so there are fewer shackles for him.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
His arms were restrained to the bed and his feet were shackled together at the ankles.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
In footage from inside the building, the detainees could be seen running while handcuffed and their legs shackled, some falling to the ground amid the rush to get away from the gunfire.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shackle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle
Noun
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With that in mind, consider stacking charms, unique metals, different chain weights, mixing stones, and even materials when layering pieces in your collection (or shopping for new styles).—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Videos of diners who were surprised to see the singer at one of the restaurant chain’s locations have also gone viral.—
Natalia Cano,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Now, looking back, Spelling bemoans the embarrassment that kept her from speaking out sooner and wants to do her part to normalize the effects of eczema and dismantle the stigma.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Ron Rosenbaum on the Icon and the Enigma To be caught in the spotlight of our pretensions is the worst kind of embarrassment there is.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But Ohtani’s really did appear to be lunar-bound.—
Steve Rushin,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
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Even though October 31 is officially behind us, the rollout of celebrity Halloween costumes are bound to continue over the next couple of days.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Yet, challenges such as battery weight, regulation, safety, and scalability still hinder most projects.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Did the leaks hinder your creative approach to making music?—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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For accessories, Stewart often turns to solitaire diamond earrings and simple rings, with her top jewelry brands including Van Cleef & Arpels’ pendants and Cartier, with the Tank watch in metal bracelet and alligator straps, as a staple piece.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
31 Oct. 2025
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Both the company and the CPSC advise consumers to stop using the green bracelet immediately and return either the bracelet or the entire package to any H-E-B store for a full refund.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Still, recent history has thrown obstacles in the way of developers’ timelines for Sacramento-area sports venues.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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It was struck down, eliminating an obstacle for those lawsuits to get to trial.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The post 9/11 blunders in which Cheney played a part can be tied to the rise of ISIS, perennial instability in the Middle East, the migrant crisis and the crushing debt burden ($38 trillion and counting) that looms over the US economy.—
Ben Wedeman,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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This was tied at 20-20 through 14 minutes, until the game went tilt with a 20-5 Aztecs run to close the half.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Neither tug was blatant, but both seemed to impede Allende.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Three people with knowledge of those interests said there was consternation among insiders that forcing Maduro out could foment chaos and unrest and impede their access.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackle. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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