as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in binds
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 hampers
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 shackles
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Footage of him in shackles is a welcome sight for those of us who care about individual rights.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
And our liberation from the shackles of homophobia is precisely what pushed Vladimir Putin to start tightening the screws.
—Mikhail Zygar, Vanity Fair, 7 Jan. 2026
But for so many Venezuelans, the sight of Maduro in shackles was about a tyrant facing justice.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Maduro was escorted into the courtroom in shackles and orange jail slippers and sat two seats away from his wife.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2026
Others still are led in shackles to the 10th floor where fellow migrants are held.
—Carol Guzy, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
The judge briefly stopped a media livestream of a hearing earlier this month and ordered the camera be moved after Robinson's attorneys said the stream showed the defendant's shackles.
—CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
Their return capped a week of intense negotiations by Seoul to win their release and bring them home after they were taken into custody in handcuffs and shackles.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Even one of the greatest ever to play this game, Joe Root, could not work out how to break free of the 36-year-old’s shackles here, failing to score a single run off him for 23 balls in a row before finally yielding to the python-like grip when missing one that homed in on his pads.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Footage of him in shackles is a welcome sight for those of us who care about individual rights.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
And our liberation from the shackles of homophobia is precisely what pushed Vladimir Putin to start tightening the screws.
—Mikhail Zygar, Vanity Fair, 7 Jan. 2026
But for so many Venezuelans, the sight of Maduro in shackles was about a tyrant facing justice.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Maduro was escorted into the courtroom in shackles and orange jail slippers and sat two seats away from his wife.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2026
Others still are led in shackles to the 10th floor where fellow migrants are held.
—Carol Guzy, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
The judge briefly stopped a media livestream of a hearing earlier this month and ordered the camera be moved after Robinson's attorneys said the stream showed the defendant's shackles.
—CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
Their return capped a week of intense negotiations by Seoul to win their release and bring them home after they were taken into custody in handcuffs and shackles.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
-
Throughout both films, Stern's Marv is subjected to some of the worst obstacles set up to protect Keven, including stepping on a nail barefoot, taking a hot iron to the face and bricks to the head, and surviving an electrocution.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Alignment is the key to overcoming obstacles.—
Karen Hinds,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When this sickening sensation happens, the nervous system releases a chemical messenger called substance P, which then binds to receptors in the brain that activate the vomiting reflex — specifically neurokinin-1, or NK-1, receptors.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
This piece of legislation legally binds the US to help Taiwan defend itself against stronger neighbors, like China.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But that process was slowed by procedural hurdles.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
-
While still a hurdle for million of Americans, financing costs have eased slightly in recent months.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tokyo Central is owned by Japanese company Pan Pacific Retail Management, which also runs the grocery chains Gelson’s and Don Quijote.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
3 Dec. 2025
-
Texas Roadhouse, which also operates casual dining chains Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers, is expected to report third-quarter results at the end of October.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That imbalance — one main character rendered flesh and blood while the other never comes to life — hinders the central narrative of the film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
3 Jan. 2026
-
The anti-caking coating that prevents cheese from sticking together also hinders cheese from blending or melting into other foods with ease.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Legal experts say the safest approach is to keep your distance, follow lawful orders, and avoid actions that could be interpreted as obstruction.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Swart said mixing peaceful protesters with individuals engaging in obstruction creates serious safety risks, as officers cannot easily distinguish between lawful demonstrators and agitators.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That ties the Islanders with the Blackhawks for the league low.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
However, the text of his Wednesday order caps salaries at current levels and ties future executive incentive compensation to delivery and production metrics.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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