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manacle

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb manacle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manacle are clog, fetter, hamper, shackle, 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 might clog be a better fit than manacle?

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

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When would fetter be a good substitute for manacle?

The words fetter and manacle can be used in similar contexts, but fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

When is it sensible to use hamper instead of manacle?

The synonyms hamper and manacle are sometimes interchangeable, but hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

When can trammel be used instead of manacle?

The words trammel and manacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 manacle
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
  • Major movie theatre chains including AMC, Regal and Cinemark have explicitly stated rules against certain attire, including face paint.
    Anika Reed, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
  • The new menu will include the chain's $5 Meal Deal as well as exclusive in-app offers as well as a Buy One, Add One for $1 option for some of customers' favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner items.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Things to do at Arizona Snowbowl Besides downhill skiing, Arizona Snowbowl also has: A terrain park with a variety of obstacles.
    The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024
  • People with disabilities face a range of obstacles navigating the workforce and workplace, and for those that make up the neurodiverse population, having conditions that can often 'hide in plain sight' presents unique challenges that can have a devastating impact on their health.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • So you’re bound to find a color that complements your bathroom.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Rookie Tristan da Silva, who’s already started 14 games in the absence of Banchero, is bound to take on a larger role, too.
    Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The search, which started the same day, was hampered by poor weather, officials reported.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Meanwhile, research detailed in the MIT Sloan Management Review reveals that RTO mandates can cause a short-term lag in productivity and hamper hopes for a financial win.
    Jim DeLoach, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Taking your four-legged buddy on a hike or a multi-day camping adventure is hands-down one of the best ways to bond.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Dec. 2024
  • Emerging at Ajax During her first season with the senior team, Yohannes struck up a close bond with teammate Ashleigh Weerden – who has since signed for English side Crystal Palace.
    Ben Church, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • But still, there will be technical hurdles in this convergence of the physical and digital worlds.
    Swati Kirti, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Orlando City has had the home-field advantage all through the playoffs — thanks to the top three seeds losing earlier — and after last weekend’s victory vs. Atlanta United there’s one more hurdle.
    Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The offensive came at a time when Assad’s key backers were tied down or weakened by other conflicts: the Russians in Ukraine, and Iran and Hezbollah with Israel.
    Rania Abouzeid, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Ultimately, the luxury customer experience (CX) is inextricably tied to the employee experience (EX).
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Jermaine Johnson’s absence due to a season-ending Achilles injury has hindered the Jets’ pass rush.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Trump frequently criticized Powell during his first term, accusing the Fed of keeping rates too high and hindering economic growth.
    Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near manacle

Cite this Entry

“Manacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manacle. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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