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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shackles
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
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
-
This means that fuel cells can, theoretically, operate without the infrastructure problems of electric or hydrogen vehicles, but the real obstacle is achieving sheer power in a light, compact engine that is compliant with existing regulations.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Sep. 2025
-
This enables the robot to figure out its precise navigation and obstacle avoidance coordinates, with an accuracy down to 2 centimeters.—
Ni Tao,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What binds them together is their adherence to these six commitments.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That unspoken bond is precious, and what binds a lot of community together.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For a franchise placing its future on the development of young players, the timing of the injuries is a hurdle.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As a result, same-sex couples continue to face other challenges in other aspects of daily life, from visiting their partner at hospitals to raising children, hurdles that families in many other global financial capitals that look to attract top talent no longer face.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This hinders the delivery of critical alerts and real-time actions.—
Michael De Nil,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The Bonner hamstring injury further hinders this crew.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Tyler Robinson was also arrested on charges of obstruction of justice and the felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, authorities said.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Since then, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been taken into custody and is charged with murder, obstruction, and felony firearm charges after allegedly shooting Kirk from a nearby building while the right-wing activist was speaking at a college event in Utah.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Regenerative Imperative What ties these threads together is a vision of technology as a regenerative force; systems that heal rather than harm, that strengthen rather than extract, that enhance human capabilities rather than replace them.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The package ties future awards to ambitious market value and performance milestones.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The university has also cracked down on chalking on campus sidewalks, which critics say impedes the free speech rights of students.—
Chris Quintana,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share