shackle 1 of 2

shackle

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb shackle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of shackle are clog, fetter, hamper, manacle, and trammel. While all these words mean "to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting," shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice
a people manacled by tyranny

When is it sensible to use clog instead of shackle?

Although the words clog and shackle have much in common, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When is fetter a more appropriate choice than shackle?

The meanings of fetter and shackle largely overlap; however, fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

When might hamper be a better fit than shackle?

While in some cases nearly identical to shackle, hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

When would trammel be a good substitute for shackle?

While the synonyms trammel and shackle are close in meaning, trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

Examples 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 shackle
Noun
Four centuries ago, Tucker’s ancestors had been forced to leave the African land of their birth in shackles. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024 However, these shackles are precisely what many current proponents of the gold standard consider so compelling. Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
The Government Accountability Office, the U.S. federal government’s official watchdog agency, worries that China is using the Belt and Road Initiative to purchase influence in the developing world by shackling nations with infrastructure debt, according to a report released in October. Robert Schmad, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Dec. 2024 The former drug lord’s hands were shackled and two officers in helmets and flak vests held each of his arms. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shackle 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle
Noun
  • State of play: Peter Morton sold his interest in the cafe chain in 1996.
    Carrie Shepherd, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Los Angeles only has a volunteer, part-time and mostly teenage hand crew, who use axes, shovels and chain saws to stop wildfires spreading, according to the Post.
    Chris Boyette, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The embarrassment of midfield riches could, for some, soften the blow of using Ampadu as Struijk’s long-term stand-in.
    Beren Cross, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
  • But on the way out, there was one final embarrassment: a $60 million fine by the NFL against the old owner following the release of an independent investigation, which found workplace misconduct and financial improprieties while Snyder owned the team.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Removing such an important network from any team is bound to cause disruption to the team’s identity.
    Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The Jubilee runs through early January 2026, so, if you are bound for Rome, book everything as far in advance as possible.
    Gary Stoller, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • As homeowners turn to contractors for the slow process of rebuilding, an immigration policy that deports undocumented workers or forces them underground may hinder the recovery.
    Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
  • This detachment can hinder the development of relationship security, which is essential for building healthy relationships in adulthood.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Shields spoke glowingly of the night in a recent podcast interview, saying mama Swift gave one of her daughters a bracelet right off her wrist.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Chalamet paired the green scarf with a denim set from True Religion that featured contrasting stitching, layered bracelets, and a pair of ankle boots.
    Marissa Muller, WWD, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Their change of heart reflects the inconvenient practical obstacles to suddenly cutting off access to a popular platform.
    Johanna Costigan, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
  • There is a path to preventing such a wrong turn, even if the path is strewn with obstacles and is uphill all the way.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Minnesota had a distinct advantage on the glass and in the paint in the first half and went to the break tied 60-60.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Jan. 2025
  • But good times didn’t last as Morgan scored 10 of the Cornhuskers’ next 15 points to tie the score at 24 with 7:42 left in the first half.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Walker, in fact, explains that one of the by-products of alcohol metabolism is a class of chemicals, known as aldehydes, that are especially prone to impede REM sleep.
    Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
  • These teams all have franchise players to build around and some contracts that would impede them from fully committing to the tear-down process.
    Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near shackle

Cite this Entry

“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackle. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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