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

The agent couldn’t figure out how to fit the ankle shackles over Sanchez-Corona’s work boots. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026 He’s sentenced to hard time in a rural work camp, breaking rocks in the hot sun — a chain gang minus the shackles. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

The president Monday said against any new regulation could shackle innovation and would only benefit China. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026 Otherwise, though, Moore, who like a year ago has been quick out of the blocks with early season goals against Cardiff City and Millwall, was well shackled despite putting in an energetic shift. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shackle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle

Noun

Contract pharmacies grew from roughly 1,300 in 2010 to more than 31,000 by mid-2026, dominated by the largest chains.

— Casey B. Mulligan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Not only are those objectively terrible ideas, but chains of title put guardrails on what studios can do with many iconic characters.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of chain

Noun

The drama that animates Mud is a Sisyphean one, and Wolf casts herself as agent of her own embarrassment and woe.

— Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to Epstein have been a source of embarrassment to the royal family for more than a decade.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrassment

Verb

Also, a decision by a federal appeals court binds federal district courts within its jurisdiction—here, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming—and serves as influential precedent elsewhere.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
His hands and legs were bound, duct tape covered his face, and his body was burned and showed signs of decomposition, according to the record.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of bind

Verb

The chair of Fayette County Democrats, Tracy Wilson, said the Uniontown Police Department is already short-staffed and underfunded and believes the program could hinder officers from answering calls.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Celebrity guests accompany the contestants, ideally helping and not hindering them, to an all-or-nothing final, where one test decides everything, including the true identity of the player.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of hinder

Noun

Months after their 2023 breakup, Kelce attended one of Swift’s concert, tried to give her a friendship bracelet, recounted the story on his podcast, and the rest is history.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 2026
In 2010, another record was broken when Simpson’s Cartier onyx and diamond panther bracelet sold at Sotheby’s for $7 million.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of bracelet

Noun

There’s outward social and internalized pressure on the Dashwood sisters to marry, and do it quickly, but per any Austen tale, the path is blotchy and blocked by obstacles and second-guessing.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
During robot operation, LiDAR supplies information about the surrounding environment, helping the framework account for obstacles and available clearance.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

Another option via the Danube river has been hampered by low water levels; and a key bridge out of Ukraine has been damaged.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Aside from demanding that fans in the Pacific time zone set their alarms for an ungodly early start to their Sunday viewing slate, the International Series games have been hampered by NFL Network’s status as a basic-cable channel.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of hamper

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shackle

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Style

“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackle. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shackle

noun

verb

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