shackles 1 of 2

noun

Definition of shacklesnext
plural of shackle
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult the shackles of illiteracy can be just as confining as leg irons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shackles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shackle
1
as in binds
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 hampers
to create difficulty for the work or activity of shackled by poverty and ignorance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
  1. obstacle
  2. binds
  3. hurdle
  4. obstruction
  5. impedes
  6. embarrassment
  7. barrier
  8. interference
Noun
  • Here are steps that can help ensure a smooth integration process, addressing potential obstacles and strategies to overcome them: 1.
    Brian Moroney, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Another political obstacle: The fossil-fuel industry has turned natural gas into a culture-war issue by bombarding Americans with the message that woke liberals are coming to take away their gas stoves and gas drilling jobs.
    Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • And one thread binds many of those conversations.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Another breed of hypothetical particle, axions are predicted to exist by quantum chromodynamics, which is our best quantum theory of the strong force that binds quarks together to form protons, neutrons and ultimately atomic nuclei.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of binds
Noun
  • The biggest hurdle to finding a job for people with autism is convincing employers to hire them, said Margaret Newman Thornton, COO of Opportunity Community Ability.
    Michael Cuglietta, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2024
  • With that major hurdle cleared, there was one last problem.
    Meagan Flynn, Baltimore Sun, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of hurdle
Noun
  • Imaging: Healthcare providers use X-ray, ultrasound, or specialized imaging methods like magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) to screen for signs of duct obstruction, rule out other causes of symptoms, or assess disease progress.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Lisa Marie died in January 2023 at age 54 of bowel obstruction.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of obstruction
Verb
  • Nothing ever impedes Andrew’s upgrade to human status.
    Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Unfortunately, this impedes the creative process and results in an uneven end product.
    Jerry Weissman, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Definition of impedes
Noun
  • There was not one single person wearing the exact same thing, and so any feelings of embarrassment about wearing a toilet with a head popping out of it on my back were washed away.
    George Yang, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
  • But Thornton showed no sign of scorn or even embarrassment.
    Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Definition of embarrassment
Noun
  • The state has sought to erect barriers around practices that put the elderly at risk for financial abuse.
    Christina Lengyel | The Center Square contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Yet, many aspects of women’s healthcare remain rigid, impersonal and filled with barriers.
    Mallory Walsh, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of barrier
Noun
  • What's New The European Union has launched an investigation into TikTok over its role in Romania's recent presidential election, annulled following allegations of Russian interference.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
  • There’s also the question of whether WBD will honor the promise to let DC Studios proceed without interference — a promise already undermined by the fact casting for Superman had to be approved through a committee of studio execs including Warner President and CEO David Zaslav.
    Mark Hughes, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of interference
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near shackles

shackled

shackles

shackling

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on shackles

Nglish: Translation of shackles for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of shackles for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...