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
Relevance
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
-
The pledge is not a legally binding order.—
Neil Strebig,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The binding constraint on embodied AI isn’t compute or architecture.—
Nicole Fraenkel,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But then the team lost Kevin Fiala for the rest of the season to a fractured leg in the Olympic tournament and saw winger Andrei Kuzmenko undergo surgery last week to repair torn meniscus in his right knee, hampering an offense that ranks 28th in the 32-team league in goals.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Public frustration over the district’s academic performance reached a boiling point in August 2024, when Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker spoke at a school board meeting, saying the district’s poor performance was hampering students’ opportunities after high school.—
Silas Allen,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Trojans led the Huskies by 13 in the second half and had chances to win at the end of regulation and overtime, only to miss all three potential game-winning or game-tying shots and go 2-for-5 from the free-throw line in overtime.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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He was sacked 55 times, tying for the league high.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The incident resulted in a ticket for impeding traffic, for which she was ordered to pay $197 after pleading no contest in Orange County court on Monday.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
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Gomez was standing to Hermansen’s right, and Ibrahima Konate to his left, but neither seemed to be impeding any less than Robertson had been deemed to be against City.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For Jones, doing his part meant observing, which led to at least four officers jumping on his back, handcuffing him, crushing his legs, and grinding his forehead into the frozen concrete.—
Evan Minsker,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
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The officer around the man's neck then moves his hands to assist the other two officers in handcuffing the man, and replaces his hands with his knee on the man's head and neck.—
Hayley Walker,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit accuses them of concealing climate research and hindering the adoption of renewable energy technologies.—
Taylor Millard,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
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Here's how often to prune succulents without hindering their growth.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kaine stressed that Democrats want to fund the other agencies at DHS, while confining the ongoing negotiations to the immigration enforcement agencies.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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The man, of Watts, was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and capturing/confining wildlife and entered a no-contest plea to the animal cruelty charge, the department said.—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Senate Bill 443 would increase penalties for obstructing highways or streets.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Brown is charged with two counts of resisting and obstructing an officer, along with open container of alcohol in a vehicle.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackling. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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