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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shackles
Mars King, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
It would have been misguided to paint himself as the bold employee held back by the ownership’s shackles.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
The real story of Anthony and Grietje speaks to many American ideals—that down and out people from vastly different places could come to a new place to escape the shackles of Europe and ultimately make a better life.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
The artifacts, which occupy an entire floor of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, include over 80 sets of iron shackles, many of them child-size.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
The discovery was made May 12 at the home of Wayne Leslie Briggs in Murphy, where deputies also found handcuffs and leg shackles, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mark Price
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Burke was led into court in a bright orange jumpsuit and leg and arm shackles, which were removed by a deputy after he was seated.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Burke appeared in court on Thursday, wearing an orange inmate jumpsuit and shackles.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
In film and television, book clubs are portrayed as a way for women to briefly free themselves from the shackles of domestic responsibility, sticky children, feckless husbands.
—Roxane Gay, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
After she was brought to the Whipple Building, where federal immigration activities were headquartered, agents cut off some of her clothing and her wedding ring, put her in shackles and left her in a cell for hours, according to the lawsuit.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
It would have been misguided to paint himself as the bold employee held back by the ownership’s shackles.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
The real story of Anthony and Grietje speaks to many American ideals—that down and out people from vastly different places could come to a new place to escape the shackles of Europe and ultimately make a better life.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
The artifacts, which occupy an entire floor of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, include over 80 sets of iron shackles, many of them child-size.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
The discovery was made May 12 at the home of Wayne Leslie Briggs in Murphy, where deputies also found handcuffs and leg shackles, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mark Price
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Burke was led into court in a bright orange jumpsuit and leg and arm shackles, which were removed by a deputy after he was seated.
—Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Burke appeared in court on Thursday, wearing an orange inmate jumpsuit and shackles.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
In film and television, book clubs are portrayed as a way for women to briefly free themselves from the shackles of domestic responsibility, sticky children, feckless husbands.
—Roxane Gay, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
-
Another obstacle is that the group hasn’t secured a stadium site.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
Black entrepreneurs continue to face tremendous obstacles securing funding, city contracts and institutional support.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
The other piece in this story is the man who binds Episodes 6 and 7 together –– despite them being separated by 300 years.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
27 May 2026
-
To retain the remaining six members, the Mountain West offered a distribution plan for the incoming exit and poaching fees in exchange for signing a grant of rights that binds them to the conference for six years.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Newport Harbor multi-event standout Natalie McCarty qualified in the 100 and 300 hurdles.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
24 May 2026
-
Iran is moving its World Cup training base from Tucson to Tijuana, the president of the country’s soccer federation said Saturday, removing one of the final hurdles to its participation in this summer’s tournament.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
To address this, Ivo uses a multi-step pipeline that chains together more than 400 model calls for each contract review.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Tokyo Central is owned by Japanese company Pan Pacific Retail Management, which also runs the grocery chains Gelson’s and Don Quijote.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Current dependence on rare earth elements or precious metals often hinders the widespread adoption of electrolysis systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
Making every decision for your teenager hinders their ability to build independence.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Mailyan is due to be sentenced on September 10, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and five years in prison for each count of obstruction.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
-
Washington, under Trump, views this not as an independent initiative but as an obstruction, and is increasingly willing to use tariffs, energy threats, and diplomatic pressure to bring Paris back into line.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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In a chilling sequence, Dennis ties a garbage bag over Mallory’s head and drags her into the woods.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
The imbalance ties the hands of states trying to do what is fairest and allows states that don’t have commissions to change their maps and thus potentially their election outcomes.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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