1
as in binding
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
unwilling to shackle the dogs to the wall of the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hampering
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 shackling
The Baltimore region has suffered too long from underinvestment in transit services — which is shackling economic growth, harming the environment and constraining quality of life for families.
—
Brandon Scott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
Men are often the ones in those ICE facilities who are shackling and chaining detainees.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026
In Wisconsin, a bill that would restrict shackling inmates while in labor — something most states already ban — has repeatedly failed to pass the state Legislature.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
Brandon Scott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
Men are often the ones in those ICE facilities who are shackling and chaining detainees.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026
In Wisconsin, a bill that would restrict shackling inmates while in labor — something most states already ban — has repeatedly failed to pass the state Legislature.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackling
Verb
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OpenAI’s founders vowed not to privilege speed over safety, and the organization’s articles of incorporation made benefitting humanity a legally binding duty.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The report also found that a guide and client who fell behind due to a ski binding malfunction avoided being caught in the avalanche — and later helped rescue others.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The moves have reportedly left the task force without prosecutors with national security experience, hampering its goal to root out American connections to the Hamas attacks (which included 40 Americans among its approximately 1,200 victims).—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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The council chambers have only one entrance, hampering security and accessibility needs, and the council desk itself is not ADA-compliant.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Athletics got to Yankees closer David Bednar in the ninth inning Wednesday night, paving the way for a 3-2, series-tying victory for the nomadic visitors at Yankee Stadium.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The Sox brought the tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, but came up short to drop their second straight in the series.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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New research from our team of epidemiologists at University of Southern California and University of California, Irvine, shows that blowing dust is impeding the lung growth of children in the region – especially those living closest to the Salton Sea.—
Jill Johnston,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After handcuffing Woods, authorities searched his pockets and found two white pills.—
R.J. Rico,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
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The video sees one officer remove cash, a pair of AirPods, and pills from his pocket during the search before handcuffing him.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Others blame social media for hindering crew members from socializing—and carousing—together.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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After Congress rejected those cuts earlier this year, the White House slowed the release of NIH grant money, hindering ongoing and future scientific research.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From corrective eye surgery to confining plasma for nuclear fusion research and from entertainment to quickening checkout at supermarkets, lasers are now part of our everyday lives.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
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Certain signs, such as the recent decree by the municipal authorities of Damascus confining the sale of alcohol to Christian neighborhoods, are ominous.—
Alvaro Vargas Llosa,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2004, after years of incompetent, wasteful and corrupt agencies obstructing basic and legal public records requests, the California Assembly and Senate voted unanimously to put Proposition 59 before voters.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
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But constant artificial light has also become a problem, affecting sleep quality, disrupting plant and animal biorhythms and obstructing our views of the cosmos.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackling. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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