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shackle

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of shackle

1 something that physically prevents free movement

  • placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners
Synonyms of shackle

band, bind, bond, bracelet, chain, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, manacle(s)
Words Related to shackle

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 shackles plural something that makes movement or progress difficult

  • the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons
Synonyms of shackle

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

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 shackle

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

advantage, break, edge

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

shackle

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of shackle

1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains

  • unwilling to shackle the dogs to the wall of the house
Synonyms of shackle

bind, chain, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, trammel
Words Related to shackle

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 shackle

emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue

undo, unfasten, untangle, untie

detach, disengage
Antonyms of shackle

unbind, unfetter, unshackle

2 to create difficulty for the work or activity of

  • shackled by poverty and ignorance
Synonyms of shackle

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

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 shackle

cramp oneʼs style, give a hard time
Near Antonyms of shackle

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

free, liberate, release, untie

loosen, smooth

encourage, further, promote
Antonyms of shackle

aid, assist, facilitate, help

Synonym Discussion of shackle

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

Learn More about shackle

  1. See words that rhyme with shackle Dictionary: Definition of shackle Spanish Central: Translation of shackle Nglish: Translation of shackle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shackle for Arabic speakers

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