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
-
In the end, the deepest release isn’t about getting a medical tag, but rather about understanding why those unrelenting obstacles continued to exist.—
Lucy Jones
April 11,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
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Because Anna and Matteo were never actually together, her clear attraction with Michael doesn’t face any meaningful obstacles, aside from some obligatory (and weakly justified) initial sniping between the two leads.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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The ceasefire brokered by Pakistan still faces hurdles in the talks beginning Saturday, as Israel and Hezbollah militants have been trading fire along the border of southern Lebanon and Iran has set conditions before negotiations can begin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Then, for Artemis IV, there are even greater hurdles.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
-
According to Harvard Health, rarer but more serious side effects can include inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis; gastroparesis, or the slowing or stopping of movement of food through the stomach; bowel obstruction or blockage; and gallstone attacks or bile duct blockages.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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In March 2024, authorities arrested 32-year-old Lashawn Washington and charged her with first-degree felony murder, kidnapping and obstruction of justice.—
Veronica Fulton,
NBC news,
9 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 14 Apr. 2026.
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