TRAMMEL Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'trammel' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of trammel are clog , fetter , hamper , manacle , and shackle . While all these words mean "to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting," trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net. // rules that trammel the artist's creativity

Q: In what contexts can 'clog' take the place of 'trammel'?

The meanings of clog and trammel largely overlap; however, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering. // a court system clogged by frivolous suits

Q: When is it sensible to use 'fetter' instead of 'trammel'?

Although the words fetter and trammel have much in common, fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost. // a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

Q: When is 'hamper' a more appropriate choice than 'trammel'?

The words hamper and trammel are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence. // hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

Q: How is 'shackle' related to other words for 'trammel'?

Both shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom. // a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice // a people manacled by tyranny

trammel 1 of 2

noun

Definition of trammel

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something that makes movement or progress difficult students and parents who want to throw off the trammels of outdated school policies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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trammel

2 of 2

verb

ˈtra-məl

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

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb trammel contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of trammel are clog, fetter, hamper, manacle, and shackle. While all these words mean "to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting," trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

In what contexts can clog take the place of trammel?

The meanings of clog and trammel largely overlap; however, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When is it sensible to use fetter instead of trammel?

Although the words fetter and trammel have much in common, fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

When is hamper a more appropriate choice than trammel?

The words hamper and trammel are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

How is shackle related to other words for trammel?

Both shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice

a people manacled by tyranny

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of trammel

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 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

Verb

The Constitution and the law are only more to be revered because they are being trammeled. — Literary Hub, 26 Nov. 2025 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trammel

Noun

Despite the obstacles, families will be moving into the two units within the next few weeks and will be able to stay for as long as necessary.

— Julianna Mejia July 16, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
Any effort to federalize or take over elections would face serious legal obstacles, said Nahal Kazemi, a Chapman University law professor.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

Any agreement or understanding between British and Romanian authorities would not legally bind the US, which was not a party to it.

— Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Since 2017, she has been disabled by a rare condition, called spinal CSF leak, and is mostly bed-bound.

— Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of bind

Verb

Movie special effects studios are among the groups opposing the legislation over concerns that overly broad restrictions would impede their work.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
The farmers said the smoke impedes their hay operation, as the haze blocks the sunlight necessary to dry the hay out.

— The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2026

Definition of impede

Noun

Land's End is one of the best places on mainland Britain to watch the eclipse because of its vast Atlantic horizon and minimal obstruction toward the west-northwest.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 July 2026
Frequently check for obstructions in the material, like staples or screws, and keep two hands on the saw to improve control and stability.

— Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026

Definition of obstruction

Verb

The 4-point play gave Mitchell her fourth 30-point game of the season, tied for the most in a single season in franchise history, and extended her franchise record to 15 30-point outings.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Odysseus insisted on hearing their song and was tied to the mast.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026

Definition of tie

Noun

Yet another hurdle is Chicago Parking Meters itself, which has threatened to sue the city if the council doesn’t approve the Stonepeak deal.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
For instance, non-invasive EEG systems generally capture weaker and noisier signals than implanted brain devices, making accuracy and reliability critical hurdles.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026

Definition of hurdle

Verb

Most of its strongest thunderstorms remain confined to the southern half of the circulation, while dry air continues to disrupt development despite fuel from near-record warm Gulf water.

— Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Despite decades of research, terahertz systems have remained largely confined to laboratories because the equipment needed to generate, manipulate, and detect these signals is often bulky, expensive, and difficult to scale.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026

Definition of confine

Browse Nearby Words

tram

trammel

trammeled

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Trammel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trammel. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of trammel

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on trammel

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dog days

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes