SHACKLE Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of shackle are clog , fetter , hamper , manacle , 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 is it sensible to use 'clog' instead of 'shackle'?

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

Q: When is 'fetter' a more appropriate choice than 'shackle'?

The meanings of fetter and shackle largely overlap; however, 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 might 'hamper' be a better fit than 'shackle'?

While in some cases nearly identical to shackle , hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence. // hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

Q: When would 'trammel' be a good substitute for 'shackle'?

While the synonyms trammel and shackle are close in meaning, trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net. // rules that trammel the artist's creativity

shackle 1 of 2

noun

ˈsha-kəl

Definition of shackle

as in chain

something that physically prevents free movement placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

shackle

2 of 2

verb

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

as in to hinder

to create difficulty for the work or activity of shackled by poverty and ignorance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb shackle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shackle are clog, fetter, hamper, manacle, 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 is it sensible to use clog instead of shackle?

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

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When is fetter a more appropriate choice than shackle?

The meanings of fetter and shackle largely overlap; however, fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

When might hamper be a better fit than shackle?

While in some cases nearly identical to shackle, hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

When would trammel be a good substitute for shackle?

While the synonyms trammel and shackle are close in meaning, 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 shackle

Noun

Carrasco smiled as he was walked out of the 49th Precinct Thursday afternoon with shackles on his legs and arms. — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Ihnen also says that medical staff members have asked to remove the shackles, but the Department of Correction has refused. — New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Verb

Luke Ihnen, one of Pike’s lawyers, says that one of her hands and her feet are shackled to her hospital bed, and that medical staff have requested that at least her hand be freed. — New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026 All of the deportees were shackled at the ankles and wrists while in the air. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shackle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle

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

The latest embarrassment came Sunday, when Gang Green squandered a nine-point halftime lead in a 38-33 loss to the Raiders.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
What readers are saying The comments reflect a general skepticism towards polling, particularly among Republicans, who are perceived as reluctant to participate due to distrust and embarrassment about their political choices.

— Scott Clement, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrassment

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

Plus, there’s silica to softly blur the look of pores and texture without hindering your glow.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Oct. 2026
If pursued judiciously, this emphasis on security will not hinder cooperation between the United States and its allies but rather strengthen it.

— Sam Mullins, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of hinder

Noun

Borbonese was started in Turin, Italy, in 1910 under the ownership of Umberto Minestrone and Edoardo Calcagno, supplying necklaces, bracelets and other accoutrements to Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi, Galitzine and Ungaro.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026
The bracelet sent to her home had belonged to a boy named Rob Potyraj in Michigan.

— Steve Large, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of bracelet

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

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

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

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shack

shackle

shackled

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Style

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

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Synonyms of shackle

noun

verb

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