1
as in chain
something that physically prevents free movement
placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in embarrassment
shackles plural
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
unwilling to shackle the dogs to the wall of the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hinder
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
shackled by poverty and ignorance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shackle
Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty, entered the Manhattan courtroom with shackles on his hands and feet.
—Adam Reiss, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
My worst days were spent being transported to the courtroom shackled and isolated in a tiny cage, waiting to be summoned into trial.
—James L. Dold, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shackle
Noun
When Tommy's death seems all but assured, everyone’s favorite landman is saved by a mystery man, played by Andy Garcia, who kills the other cartel members, frees him from his shackles, and floats the idea of a peaceful coexistence between the cartel and M*Tex.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty, entered the Manhattan courtroom with shackles on his hands and feet.
—Adam Reiss, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
On February 4th, ten Venezuelan men, their hands and feet shackled, were brought to Guantánamo from El Paso, Texas, on a military plane.
—Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
My worst days were spent being transported to the courtroom shackled and isolated in a tiny cage, waiting to be summoned into trial.
—James L. Dold, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shackle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle
Noun
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Artificial Intelligence will soon take fast-food orders at 500 major chains including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
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This is less of a problem at large fast-food chains with safety checks and cooking technologies that help minimize these chemicals, but smaller restaurants may not have these precautions, Decker explains.—
Matt Fuchs,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But Couples has missed the cut in four of his last five starts at Augusta National, and the prospect of embarrassment does not sit well with him.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
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But their latest entry into this costly genre is yet another embarrassment in a string of them, and similarly destined to be forgotten.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And even as experts point to overwhelming data on vaccine safety, the raw and immediate accounts — delivered straight to the movement’s followers — provide a narrative that public health officials, bound by evidence and constrained by institutional caution, struggle to counter.—
Brandy Zadrozny,
NBC News,
20 Mar. 2025
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The winner’s persistence and integrity, bound by the twin spirits of independence and collaboration, stoke the creative ambitions of diverse people who have important stories to tell.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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His zone swing percentage is higher than average but is going to have to be at Freddie Freeman levels to hinder teams in effectively pitching around him.—
Michael Salfino,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
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However, some connections hinder, rather than help, professional progress.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As for accessories, Stefani went with silver bangle bracelets and a few rings.—
WWD Staff,
WWD,
20 Mar. 2025
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But Chico could also be problematic, racking up so many DUIs that by 2007 the star was required to wear an ankle bracelet that monitored his alcohol intake.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Take Calculated Risks; Start Lean Entrepreneurs should welcome uncertainty as a catalyst, not an obstacle.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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In Region 4 in Spokane, the biggest obstacle facing the No. 2 seed Huskies is No. 1 seed USC — which defeated UConn in Hartford in December.—
Scott Phillips,
The Athletic,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Tristan Fraser tied the game, beating BU goalie Mikhail Yegorov a mere 59 seconds in.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
20 Mar. 2025
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The phenomenon is tied to milder winters and specific cultivars, offering a vibrant pink spectacle against Tokyo’s urban backdrop before the main cherry blossom season kicks off.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Britain’s youth are grappling with worse mental health now than 10 years ago, pushing more of them out of employment than their middle-aged peers and impeding their career growth.—
BYPrarthana Prakash,
Fortune Europe,
21 Mar. 2025
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Whereas, for example, if AI is part of a feature set, one component faulting does not necessarily cause the user to feel their tasks have been impeded.—
Agur Jõgi,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackle. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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