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
Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
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
But Carrera’s course has none of these administrative shackles.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
It would have been misguided to paint himself as the bold employee held back by the ownership’s shackles.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
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
But Carrera’s course has none of these administrative shackles.
—Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
-
But as the necessities of their jobs begin to push them farther apart, truckdriving becomes a serious obstacle to their budding relationship.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
The incidents involving contact with chains, trailer hitches, poles, and curbs indicate recurring limitations in detecting smaller or irregular obstacles, especially during reversing maneuvers.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
To retain the remaining six members, the Mountain West offered a distribution plan for the incoming exit and poaching fees in exchange for signing a grant of rights that binds them to the conference for six years.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Over time, this erodes trust, hampers innovation and increases attrition.—
Kapil Jain,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
The former junkyard is seen as ripe for future redevelopment, but an environmental clean-up is clearly a costly hurdle to be cleared.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Regular New Yorkers don’t care about the reasons for the bureaucratic hurdles.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 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
-
Current dependence on rare earth elements or precious metals often hinders the widespread adoption of electrolysis systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
Making every decision for your teenager hinders their ability to build independence.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Smith was indicted for principal to manslaughter, principal to felony hazing and obstruction of justice.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
In December, Hill pleaded guilty to state charges of misconduct, perjury and obstruction of justice and was put on probation.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Quentin Tarantino’s The Whole Bloody Affair ties together both volumes of Kill Bill into a four-and-a-half-hour experience, complete with intermission.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
-
Fresh off the first MVP season of his 17-year NFL career, the Los Angeles Rams signed Matthew Stafford to a one-year, $55 million contract extension that ties him to the Rams through the 2027 season with $105 million in remaining compensation, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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