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
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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
Roxane Gay, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
There was simply not enough of that from Jeremie Frimpong or Milos Kerkez in this tie, but back on home soil, there will be no excuse as the shackles have to come off.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
But Carrera’s course has none of these administrative shackles.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Human rights monitors are trying to keep track as detainees are loaded onto planes in shackles in parts of airports the public can't easily see.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Many, unsurprisingly, led difficult lives not easily bound by the shackles of convention.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Freedom will also be tested by whether the Yemeni people, who were hijacked by the Houthis, are freed from the shackles of that Iranian proxy.
—Felice Friedson, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
When Miller entered the courtroom, he was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and had his hands and feet in shackles.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Balat and Kayumi appeared in handcuffs and shackles at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in downtown Manhattan on Monday.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
In film and television, book clubs are portrayed as a way for women to briefly free themselves from the shackles of domestic responsibility, sticky children, feckless husbands.
—Roxane Gay, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
There was simply not enough of that from Jeremie Frimpong or Milos Kerkez in this tie, but back on home soil, there will be no excuse as the shackles have to come off.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
But Carrera’s course has none of these administrative shackles.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Human rights monitors are trying to keep track as detainees are loaded onto planes in shackles in parts of airports the public can't easily see.
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Many, unsurprisingly, led difficult lives not easily bound by the shackles of convention.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
Freedom will also be tested by whether the Yemeni people, who were hijacked by the Houthis, are freed from the shackles of that Iranian proxy.
—Felice Friedson, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
When Miller entered the courtroom, he was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and had his hands and feet in shackles.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 9 Mar. 2026
Balat and Kayumi appeared in handcuffs and shackles at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in downtown Manhattan on Monday.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
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While there wasn’t a 7-foot-4 obstacle blocking the lane, the Clippers still couldn’t get out of their own way and lost to the Spurs for the third time in less than a month, 118-99, at the Intuit Dome.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, the physicists don’t see any insurmountable obstacles.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In The Long Game, Shane and Ilya are forced to confront their fears and insecurities — wrestling with codependency, depression, and self-perception — while trying to maintain the love that binds them.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The recluse toxin binds to the surface of cells and scoots along it like a lawn mower, clipping the heads off molecules on this surface.—
Matthew Cordes,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 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,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are technological hurdles for SpaceX to carry out its plans.—
The Los Angeles Times,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
This is because their use can open a Pandora’s box of unexpected hurdles and new challenges in the garden.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To address this, Ivo uses a multi-step pipeline that chains together more than 400 model calls for each contract review.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Exercise also reduces chronic inflammation in the brain, which hinders its ability to repair itself, Oye-Somefun said.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In the northeastern state of Alagoas, some prisoners were handed a Kindle with 300 literary works on them, whereas other, more conservative states have heavy bureaucracy which hinders access, Dias said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their flight plan for Friday also included rehearsals of basic medical procedures — including chest compressions and methods to clear airway obstructions — to help prepare future Orion crews for possible emergencies in deep space.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Comey was charged with making a false statement and obstruction stemming from his testimony to Congress years earlier.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An abduction sequence ties the audience’s nerves in knots with cinematographer Isaac Bauman’s athletic tracking shot loping up the stairs to Margot’s apartment accompanied by Gavin Brivik’s pulse-hammering score.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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The round, sesame-seeded bread is layered with Italian deli meats, cheeses and a tangy olive salad that ties everything together.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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