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
Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
But Eze joined Arsenal shortly before the transfer window closed this summer, and Wilfried Zaha is no longer at the club, so there are fewer shackles for him.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
-
This small but mighty cleaner has dual side brushes, multiple cleaning modes, and obstacle-avoidance technology.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Yet despite these obstacles, Pita’s voice has only grown louder, emerging as a leading figure in the global conversation on democracy and reform.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s an instinctual stitching that binds its many scenes together that build to a heartwrenching ending, culminating in neither a whimper nor a bang but a welcome sigh of relief.—
Manuel Betancourt,
Variety,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Each atom binds separate electrons, whose exchange interaction mediates the nuclear two-qubit gate.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
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,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The award had stock price hurdles of $350 and $400 and Clarke got no long-term equity grants in 2020, 2022, and 2023.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Ren also noted practical hurdles.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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 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
-
Last month, a grand jury voted to indict Comey on two charges of making a false statement to Congress and obstruction, while rejecting an additional false statements count sought by Halligan.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The latest arrests by Illinois State Police involved charges of resisting and obstruction.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin , Matt Finn , Michael Tobin,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The choice also ties back to his ongoing collaboration with Adidas, a partnership that’s stretched across performance silhouettes and lifestyle drops.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
6 Oct. 2025
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Burt dissects every era and ties the albums to work by literary greats.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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