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
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Recent Examples of shackles
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
For independents, knowledge and integrity are keys that unlock the shackles of party dogma.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Agents arrested some 475 people—including more than 300 South Korean contractors—and led them away in shackles and handcuffs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
Tender Buttons is a celebration of mutability, a rejoinder to rules, where words are set free from the shackles of meaning and grammatical function, made unfamiliar, and charged with power to make the world afresh.
—Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Noun
On Friday, exactly one month after Kirk was assassinated, Robinson requested permission to wear civilian clothes in court and to appear without shackles and cuffs.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
For independents, knowledge and integrity are keys that unlock the shackles of party dogma.
—John H Bolthouse, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Agents arrested some 475 people—including more than 300 South Korean contractors—and led them away in shackles and handcuffs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
Tender Buttons is a celebration of mutability, a rejoinder to rules, where words are set free from the shackles of meaning and grammatical function, made unfamiliar, and charged with power to make the world afresh.
—Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
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Shiffrin doesn't view this as an obstacle either, nor something to fear at this stage of the game.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Minister Kabawat’s optimism comes despite immense obstacles.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Love binds the Duncans together just as tightly as their secrets, making family both their greatest weapon — and their greatest weakness — in BET+'s The Family Business.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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That tells you a lot about the spiritual connection that binds our two countries.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 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,
22 Oct. 2025
-
What truly hampers Regretting You is its inescapable unoriginality, its plodding, uninventive, unthoughtful attempts at swoon and heartbreak.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Shooting presented unique logistical hurdles, with different sequences filmed across multiple golf courses around Manila’s peripheries due to restrictions.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
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But economists warned Argentina’s assets — and the US government’s bet on Milei’s success — still face hurdles.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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Officials have argued the government shutdown hinders the Department of Agriculture's ability to distribute additional dollars.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Inertia hinders many consumers from seeking out higher rates.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Arrests were made for offenses including obstruction of the highway, hindering law enforcement duties, and assault on police.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Oct. 2025
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Observing and recording law enforcement is generally protected, but warning people to avoid arrest or physically interfering with ICE operations could be considered obstruction.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Other than Valak appearing in both The Conjuring 2 and The Nun, there’s no apparent link between the two movies — but in The Nun’s sequel, a plot point emerges that ties the movies together.—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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The book also ties Pennywise’s origins to Derry’s original Native American population in a colonial allegory.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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