as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
students and parents who want to throw off the trammels of outdated school policies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
years after his death, she was still trammeled by inconsolable grief for her deceased husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the new paperwork requirements will only trammel us and lower our productivity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trammel
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
The moment comes right before America Ferrera’s big monologue about the trammels of womanhood, when Robbie soliloquizes, too, about the loss of her self-esteem.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
Step 2: Measure and Cut Cubby Dividers Use trammel points to mark a rounded edge (an arc with a 7-1/2-inch radius) on three 6-1/2 x 19-inch boards.
—Lucy Fitzgerald, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024
Join the top and drop leaf; then use a large trammel to mark the curved edge.
—Thomas Klenck, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2021
Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Diggs was trammeled by knee issues throughout 2023 as the 26-year-old was sidelined for 15 games after tearing his left ACL.
—Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
The Founders gave an independent judiciary the responsibility of preventing the other branches from trammeling fundamental liberties of citizens.
—oregonlive, 23 Jan. 2020
The Patriots defense, which is on pace to break NFL records for most sacks and fewest points allowed, has trammeled and trampled opposing offenses, but the schedule keeps serving up red meat or raw quarterbacks for them to prey upon.
—BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2019
Now the area is brimming with new construction, and Ms. Medvedow, 63, is leading her institution into another less-trammeled area.
—New York Times, 22 June 2018
Those federal laws, along with state and local equivalents, provide broad and effective remedies for unequal pay without trammeling the hiring process.
—Gerald Skoning, WSJ, 12 Dec. 2017
When applied to armed protests, that mindset takes our country to a dangerous place: The Second Amendment and state open carry laws cannot trammel the free speech rights of unarmed protesters and the necessity for law enforcement to keep the peace.
—Olivia Li, Slate Magazine, 17 Oct. 2017
Noun
In the middle of the Mediterranean, off the coast of the island nation of Malta, a professional fisherman dropped his trammel net into the water.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
The moment comes right before America Ferrera’s big monologue about the trammels of womanhood, when Robbie soliloquizes, too, about the loss of her self-esteem.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
Step 2: Measure and Cut Cubby Dividers Use trammel points to mark a rounded edge (an arc with a 7-1/2-inch radius) on three 6-1/2 x 19-inch boards.
—Lucy Fitzgerald, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024
Join the top and drop leaf; then use a large trammel to mark the curved edge.
—Thomas Klenck, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2021
Verb
Children arrive into a trammeling grid of haves and have-nots set up long before their birth, a net that individual struggles serve only to tighten.
—Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Diggs was trammeled by knee issues throughout 2023 as the 26-year-old was sidelined for 15 games after tearing his left ACL.
—Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
The Founders gave an independent judiciary the responsibility of preventing the other branches from trammeling fundamental liberties of citizens.
—oregonlive, 23 Jan. 2020
The Patriots defense, which is on pace to break NFL records for most sacks and fewest points allowed, has trammeled and trampled opposing offenses, but the schedule keeps serving up red meat or raw quarterbacks for them to prey upon.
—BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2019
Now the area is brimming with new construction, and Ms. Medvedow, 63, is leading her institution into another less-trammeled area.
—New York Times, 22 June 2018
Those federal laws, along with state and local equivalents, provide broad and effective remedies for unequal pay without trammeling the hiring process.
—Gerald Skoning, WSJ, 12 Dec. 2017
When applied to armed protests, that mindset takes our country to a dangerous place: The Second Amendment and state open carry laws cannot trammel the free speech rights of unarmed protesters and the necessity for law enforcement to keep the peace.
—Olivia Li, Slate Magazine, 17 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trammel
Noun
-
Autonomous systems handle the full flight profile, from takeoff to landing, using sensors for obstacle detection and avoidance.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
-
If there weren’t obstacles, this would be a very short series.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At the very least, a major influx of new cast members are bound to shake up the series third season, which will pick after the dramatic killing of a beloved character, the arrest of another, and the breakup between two more.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The families remain close, bound by the boating tragedy.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Since pre-shredded cheeses are coated in anti-caking agents that can impede melting, our Test Kitchen recommends grating your own cheese from a block or wedge.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Martinez was charged in federal court with forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Robinson was also charged with firearm counts and multiple obstruction-of-justice charges.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Arrests were made for unlawful assembly, violent resistance, obstruction of emergency response efforts and assault.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kreider’s second goal of the game, with 51 seconds left, tied the game, and his two goals were his first since signing with Anaheim after playing 13 seasons with the New York Rangers.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Bryton and Jahaira tied the knot in March, and their date of separation is listed as June, three months after the ceremony.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, Powell said that would be a mistake and would hinder the Fed's ability to carry out policy.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Many complications hinder the process, including Israeli opposition to a Palestinian state, expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the ongoing Gaza conflict, and an aging and corrupt Palestinian leadership, which the US and other Arab nations say requires reform.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Rachael Powell, chief deputy district attorney in the Fourth Judicial District, said close relationships with law enforcement can help prosecutors overcome hurdles in stalking cases.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The largest hurdle is Starship’s on-orbit refueling test.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There, protesters confined to an area of downtown Los Angeles clashed with federal agents.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
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And once that happens, the risks do not stay confined to one company.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trammel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trammel. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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