1
as in chain
usually manacles plural
something that physically prevents free movement
manacles prevented the bear from roaming beyond a very small area
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the warring groups need to shake off the manacle of their troubled past and learn to live with one another in peace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
manacled the prisoner to the wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hamper
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
in this situation, the police are manacled by unnecessary regulations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of manacle
Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024
During the trial, Wilber wore a manacle around his ankle and a stun belt on his arm.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022
Brown turned Milwaukee’s defense from manacle to meme.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2022
How to Be an Antiracist is a journal of Kendi's efforts to free himself of the ideological manacles clamped upon him by a society suffused with white supremacism, capitalist exploitation, misogyny and the repression of unconventional sexuality.
—Dallas News, 26 Aug. 2019
From every officer’s belt there dangled an insectlike furl of disposable plastic manacles.
—Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
The genie is literally the slave of the lamp, his power bracelets actually manacles keeping him obedient to an endless round of masters.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 12 June 2019
But beyond the frenzied mix of hormones and alcohol is an intense curiosity in the outside world, one that noisily landed three weeks ago on the doorsteps of Russians, unfiltered and free from the manacles of politics.
—Amie Ferris-Rotman, Washington Post, 9 July 2018
The cellar dungeons were complete with bolts, chains and manacles for securing captives to the floors.
—Jonathan W. White, Smithsonian, 27 Feb. 2018
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 July 2024
Rubio hammered home his argument that there’s no daylight between Cuba’s lack of justice and Trump’s own trial, with a video featuring a military official manacled and brought before a crowd of more than 15,000 in the Havana Sports Palace arena.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2024
The scandal is that, instead of doing his duty, the attorney general manacled his own Justice Department’s investigation.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 July 2023
His hands were manacled to a chain belt at his waist, and his feet were bound by leg irons.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 4 Dec. 2019
During those endless days and nights, everything was done to break his will: solitary confinement, pressure to confess by cruel supervisors and the humiliation of being manacled while receiving medical attention.
—Ariel Dorfman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2018
They are filmed in lingering close-up as the opening credits roll, a montage of them manacling the wrists, ankles, necks, and dreams of African American men.
—Rochelle Riley, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2018
Early practitioners in literary study, the history of language, and anthropology were often ideologically manacled by the cultural mores that encased their object of study.
—Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 25 Oct. 2017
He was imprisoned and, along with several other artists, manacled for a period of 50 days.
—Anne Glusker, Smithsonian, 6 Apr. 2017
Noun
Beneath it, on the left side of the page, was a picture of Jackson in manacles.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024
During the trial, Wilber wore a manacle around his ankle and a stun belt on his arm.
—Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022
Brown turned Milwaukee’s defense from manacle to meme.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2022
How to Be an Antiracist is a journal of Kendi's efforts to free himself of the ideological manacles clamped upon him by a society suffused with white supremacism, capitalist exploitation, misogyny and the repression of unconventional sexuality.
—Dallas News, 26 Aug. 2019
From every officer’s belt there dangled an insectlike furl of disposable plastic manacles.
—Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019
The genie is literally the slave of the lamp, his power bracelets actually manacles keeping him obedient to an endless round of masters.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 12 June 2019
But beyond the frenzied mix of hormones and alcohol is an intense curiosity in the outside world, one that noisily landed three weeks ago on the doorsteps of Russians, unfiltered and free from the manacles of politics.
—Amie Ferris-Rotman, Washington Post, 9 July 2018
The cellar dungeons were complete with bolts, chains and manacles for securing captives to the floors.
—Jonathan W. White, Smithsonian, 27 Feb. 2018
Verb
Drugged, kidnapped, and manacled while a pitiless killer wears her face.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 July 2024
Rubio hammered home his argument that there’s no daylight between Cuba’s lack of justice and Trump’s own trial, with a video featuring a military official manacled and brought before a crowd of more than 15,000 in the Havana Sports Palace arena.
—Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2024
The scandal is that, instead of doing his duty, the attorney general manacled his own Justice Department’s investigation.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 July 2023
His hands were manacled to a chain belt at his waist, and his feet were bound by leg irons.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 4 Dec. 2019
During those endless days and nights, everything was done to break his will: solitary confinement, pressure to confess by cruel supervisors and the humiliation of being manacled while receiving medical attention.
—Ariel Dorfman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2018
They are filmed in lingering close-up as the opening credits roll, a montage of them manacling the wrists, ankles, necks, and dreams of African American men.
—Rochelle Riley, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2018
Early practitioners in literary study, the history of language, and anthropology were often ideologically manacled by the cultural mores that encased their object of study.
—Josephine Livingstone, New Republic, 25 Oct. 2017
He was imprisoned and, along with several other artists, manacled for a period of 50 days.
—Anne Glusker, Smithsonian, 6 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manacle
Noun
-
In the case of Tom’s, Schaden says teams are eager partners given the chain’s ability to bring in crowds even when there isn’t an event at the venue.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The effects could ripple up the chain to textile makers and farmers as everyone seeks lower prices to save costs.—
Marc Bain and Joan Kennedy,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Rather than replace the free-for-all with a streamlined review process, restaurants seeking approval for new sheds hit delay after delay, bureaucratic obstacle after bureaucratic obstacle.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Unlike clumsier species that struggle with obstacles, the black mamba leverages every surface with surgical precision, effectively turning the landscape into a series of launchpads.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The exoplanets that are wanderers Many planets aren’t bound to a star but instead roam freely across the stretches of space.—
Shi En Kim,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Any purchaser of 23andMe assets should agree to be bound by the company's existing privacy policy, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a letter to the U.S. trustee, a government office that oversees bankruptcies.—
Jody Godoy,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Frederiksen said that other European nations are also on Denmark's side in this back-and-forth with Trump, already hampering the ties between the U.S. and its allies since Trump regained office.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The job cuts might hamper the FDA's ability to tackle cutting-edge issues such as the use of artificial intelligence or making the nation's food supply safer and more nutritious, said Peter Pitts, a former FDA associate commissioner.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Dimon's warning coincides with major turbulence in global bond markets and intensified fears of recession.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Those moves are truly enormous by bond market standards.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Data Sharing Without Risk Security and trust remain critical hurdles.—
Shekar Natarajan,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Join 80 others in the comments View Comments The documentation required by each state also varies, and ID seekers discussing the REAL ID process online have commented on hurdles for people who have had name changes or other inconsistencies in their documentation.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
On a team in need of offense, Grimes answered the bell as a top scorer in the month of March, tying Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards for 11th in scoring at 26.6 points per game.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Then, a quick flurry from the other team, and the game was tied.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Such rigid mentalities can lead team members to avoid challenges, fear failure and resist feedback, which ultimately hinders their organizations’ overall business growth.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Related article Recession odds are rising as Trump’s trade war escalates, Goldman Sachs says The economy faces a growing risk of a recession as tariffs could hinder growth, increase unemployment and contribute to inflation, according to Goldman Sachs.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Manacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manacle. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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