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
Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
The artifacts, which occupy an entire floor of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, include over 80 sets of iron shackles, many of them child-size.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
The discovery was made May 12 at the home of Wayne Leslie Briggs in Murphy, where deputies also found handcuffs and leg shackles, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mark Price
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Burke was led into court in a bright orange jumpsuit and leg and arm shackles, which were removed by a deputy after he was seated.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Burke appeared in court on Thursday, wearing an orange inmate jumpsuit and shackles.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
The real story of Anthony and Grietje speaks to many American ideals—that down and out people from vastly different places could come to a new place to escape the shackles of Europe and ultimately make a better life.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
The artifacts, which occupy an entire floor of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, include over 80 sets of iron shackles, many of them child-size.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
The discovery was made May 12 at the home of Wayne Leslie Briggs in Murphy, where deputies also found handcuffs and leg shackles, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mark Price
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Burke was led into court in a bright orange jumpsuit and leg and arm shackles, which were removed by a deputy after he was seated.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Burke appeared in court on Thursday, wearing an orange inmate jumpsuit and shackles.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
-
The Sixers, however, hadn’t considered the circumstances, the stakes, the resilience of an opponent with far bigger fish to fry than a second-round obstacle.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
All of this creates significant obstacles to its use as fuel for nuclear weapons.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The web of hospitality here binds residents of all ages together for a fulfilling and memory-rich lifestyle.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
-
This gel-like substance coats your gut and binds to cholesterol, preventing it from entering your bloodstream.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
14 May 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,
11 May 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Montverde senior Jizelle Holland piled up points with runner-up finishes in both hurdles finals, a sixth in the triple jump and a leg on the winning relay.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
Plantation senior Nyla Christian won the long jump and placed second in the 100 hurdles to lead a contingent of Broward and Palm Beach County athletes in a parade to the podium.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 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
-
This imbalance hinders some of the phrasing's sweetness in the vocal harmony.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
-
Vast terrain hinders search The immediate area in Stewart County where the search is currently contained is covered with big trees and steep hills, as well as snakes and ticks, according to the sheriff.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Coastal and eastern areas offer more dramatic settings, but come with greater risk from haze and obstruction.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
-
The hearings stretched into July, when the Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Track when the first hospital system ties a disinfection robot fleet to a bond disclosure.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Now, a civil complaint filed May 1 by her brother on behalf of her estate ties her 2024 murder to an elaborate real estate fraud allegedly orchestrated by her estranged husband.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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