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
Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Following the incident, Ryan Routh was brought back before the judge in shackles.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Hernandez Santana appears in court On Monday afternoon, Hernandez Santana in Sacramento federal court wearing an orange jail uniform, along with shackles around his waist and his ankles.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Wearing shackles and an orange jumpsuit, he is flanked by dozens of officers wearing NYPD and FBI gear.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Human Rights First raised concerns about the conditions on board the planes, with many deportees held in handcuffs or shackles for the entire flight, which can stop off in multiple countries and last more than 30 hours.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Isaac-Slurp has Pugsley in shackles, relishing the role reversal of master and pet.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Upon arrival, the deportees had shackles removed from their wrists and ankles and one at a time descended the stairway of the chartered 767 aircraft to be reprocessed by waiting Cuban immigration and health officials.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
After finishing that section, players could remove their blindfold and then complete a puzzle which gave a key that unlocked their shackles.
—EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
Routh returned to the courtroom in shackles with no signs of blood on his shirt, the AP reported.
—Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Following the incident, Ryan Routh was brought back before the judge in shackles.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Hernandez Santana appears in court On Monday afternoon, Hernandez Santana in Sacramento federal court wearing an orange jail uniform, along with shackles around his waist and his ankles.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Wearing shackles and an orange jumpsuit, he is flanked by dozens of officers wearing NYPD and FBI gear.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Human Rights First raised concerns about the conditions on board the planes, with many deportees held in handcuffs or shackles for the entire flight, which can stop off in multiple countries and last more than 30 hours.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Isaac-Slurp has Pugsley in shackles, relishing the role reversal of master and pet.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Upon arrival, the deportees had shackles removed from their wrists and ankles and one at a time descended the stairway of the chartered 767 aircraft to be reprocessed by waiting Cuban immigration and health officials.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
After finishing that section, players could remove their blindfold and then complete a puzzle which gave a key that unlocked their shackles.
—EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
-
Over the next 12 months, HMS will gain access to mentorship, commercial opportunities, business and legal advisory, digital tools, and physical resources such as co-working spaces and wet labs, support designed to help early-stage companies overcome common obstacles that startups face.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The permit problem According to Saltzer, capture is lagging because, despite available storage and existing pipelines, permitting new CO2 infrastructure remains a major obstacle.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Each atom binds separate electrons, whose exchange interaction mediates the nuclear two-qubit gate.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Oluseyi says that curiosity is the thread that binds them together.—
Jennifer Kite-Powell,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The additional hurdle for H-1B visas—a category for high-skilled workers that many tech companies rely upon—could undermine America’s ability to attract top tech talent, Bansal explained.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Of course, there’s still a final hurdle for Cootes to leap over in the final week of the preseason.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That kind of overload hinders change and makes future efforts more challenging.—
Daniel Schmeltz,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Nevertheless, the lack of efficient electrolytes with fast hydride ion conductivity, thermal stability, and electrode compatibility hinders their practical applications.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
He has been charged with armed kidnapping, willful injury, domestic abuse assault with the intent to inflict serious injuries and obstruction of emergency communications, according to public court records.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Bondi’s appearance on Fox News comes days after Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on two of three counts sought by prosecutors, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice, according to documents.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The leadoff round-tripper was the 11th hit this season by Buxton, which ties Jacque Jones (2002) for the Twins’ club record.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
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Fall Mug for Everyday Cheer A seasonal mug is a practical gift that also ties the basket together.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If a mental image only impedes the human’s process of emulation, why should her mindedness make Celmins’s web less natural than the spider’s?—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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Let go of whatever impedes your growth and progress.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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