SHACKLE Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

shackle 1 of 2

noun

ˈsha-kəl

Definition of shackle next

as in chain

something that physically prevents free movement placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

shackle

2 of 2

verb

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

as in to hinder

to create difficulty for the work or activity of shackled by poverty and ignorance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Recent Examples of shackle

Noun

In the event's aftermath, the main characters find their lives intertwined in unexpected ways and explore the complex push and pull between the shackles of cultural expectations and being one's real self. —

Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024 Through conscious awareness and intentional practices, individuals can break free from the shackles of mental clutter, fostering a more harmonious relationship between body, breath and mind. —

Joseph Sudhip, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

Verb

In a chain gang sequence, Robeson is shot from low angle, full frame, head-to-toe, bare-chested, in striped pants, in leg irons, hammering rocks with a sledgehammer, radiating an energy that cannot be shackled. —

Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024 Trump’s plan would shackle the United States with even more debt, according to the CRFB. —

Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shackle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle

Noun

Their cutbacks on spending forced a reckoning among restaurants, with fast-food brands like McDonald’s leaning into value menus and full-service chains like Red Lobster embarking on ambitious makeovers.

Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Taco Bell has been proactive in using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram (META) to engage with users, and the Tex-Mex chain has even gone so far as to let customers vote through the Taco Bell app on which menu items should make a comeback.

Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024