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something that makes movement or progress difficult students and parents who want to throw off the trammels of outdated school policies

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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

The report released by the NBA’s investigators at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz portrays Ballmer and the team as treating the league’s salary cap rules not as strict mandates, but as obstacles to be evaded, like traffic cones.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Around 32% of previous cohorts are now hiring or championing others for more senior roles, with 68% of alums citing access to decision makers is the single biggest obstacle to career progression.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

When the College Football Playoff selection committee pores over data points and debates the merits of each at-large hopeful in early December, the results of Week 2 are bound to loom large.

— Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
A week after the big score, Chetal's parents were driving in Danbury, Connecticut, when several masked men cut them off, forced them out of their new car, beat Chetal's father with a baseball bat, shoved the couple into a van and bound their hands.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of bind

Verb

But what if the longer wavelengths of the embers could both extend the hours of socializing without heavily impeding our sleep cycle?

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
In June, a top story was the arrest of fifteen Minnesotans who were charged with federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers in connection with a March 1st protest outside of ICE’s Minnesota headquarters.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of impede

Noun

Toliaferro is charged with malice murder, criminal trespass and obstruction in the death of 30-year-old Kenyon Jeffries, according to the district attorney's office.

— Rashad Williams, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Fred Guy Monaco of North Little Rock, was arrested on charges of first degree forgery, financial fraud, nonfinancial fraud and obstruction of government operations.

— Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of obstruction

Verb

The company says those sensors can help with reminders and brief activity records tied to relevant interactions rather than continuous recording.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
This increase in work, the jury contended, was directly tied to Skains’ decision to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which determined Skains had the right to sue over the discrimination.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of tie

Verb

At worst, his weaknesses prove disruptive to the lineup in his minutes or hinder the development of the others.

— Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Internalizing the middle Cross-border shopping has traditionally carried friction for consumers that could have otherwise hindered their ability to purchase from international retailers.

— Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of hinder

Noun

Earlier models relied on broad hydrological assumptions and missed practical engineering hurdles.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
At that moment Benson was tempted to use his vertical leap of more than 40 inches to simply glide over him like going over hurdles in a 110-meter race.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of hurdle

Verb

The water shielding prevents the hot metal from reacting with oxygen in the air by keeping the heat strictly confined to the target zone.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Democratic socialists were largely confined to the outer edges of political discourse.

— Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of confine

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“Trammel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trammel. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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noun

verb

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