shackles 1 of 2

noun

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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hampers
to create difficulty for the work or activity of shackled by poverty and ignorance

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Example 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 shackles
Noun
Both defendants entered the courtroom wearing ankle shackles and appeared to be in good health. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 Carman, who turns 46 later this month, was brought in shackles to the Pattaya Provincial Court on Monday for a procedural hearing to designate witnesses to testify. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 Carrasco smiled as he was walked out of the 49th Precinct Thursday afternoon with shackles on his legs and arms. — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Simpson appeared in court wearing shackles and a jail jumpsuit. — Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Sep. 2026 The agent couldn’t figure out how to fit the ankle shackles over Sanchez-Corona’s work boots. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026 He’s sentenced to hard time in a rural work camp, breaking rocks in the hot sun — a chain gang minus the shackles. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026 The Tate brothers’ years of legal trouble At their first public appearance in weeks, the Tate brothers entered a courtroom on August 27 in shackles and matching tan jail jumpsuits, surrounded by four US marshals. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026 The lawsuit alleges that county policy requires jail inmates to be restrained in handcuffs, waist chains and leg shackles while being transported. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
  1. obstacle
  2. binds
  3. hampers
  4. hurdle
  5. chains
  6. hinders
  7. obstruction
  8. ties
Noun
  • Amazon Watch, a nonprofit focused on environmental protection and Indigenous rights, also welcomed Lula’s victory while warning of legislative obstacles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Still, around 42% of marketers (linked in the Mediaocean research above) say that getting good quality data (or being able to access it) is a major obstacle, and only 10% have all their ad technology systems fully integrated.
    — Ivan Guzenko, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • In an era of parasocial pop stardom, the radical honesty of Cyrus’ approach — her clear-eyed appraisal of the relationship that binds an idol and her audience — was kind of a thrill to behold.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • A certain symmetry binds her career and the league – 15 years, half of the league’s existence.
    — Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of binds
Verb
  • But the inability a company to buy ads hampers a campaign’s visibility and removes a key tool that studios use to spread the word about a movie currently in theaters.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This lushness is truly remarkable on an island known for its volcanic soil, which traditionally hampers plant growth.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of hampers
Noun
  • That's good news for home shoppers, but may not be enough to overcome the affordability hurdles keeping many prospective homebuyers out of the market.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • On Wednesday, the Republican House speaker acknowledged his party’s hurdles while stumping for congressional candidate Kevin Lincoln in Stockton in the Central Valley.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurdle
Verb
  • Other specialty markets, including the Asian grocery chains 99 Ranch Market and T&T Supermarket, are also expanding in Southern California.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Restaurant chains Chipotle and QDOBA pulled jalapeños last week.
    — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of chains
Verb
  • Unexcused absences in three consecutive elections freeze tax IDs, block nonvoters from applying to state jobs, hinders loans from state banks, and delays the issuance of passports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • This method prevents nitrogen from diluting the exhaust gas, which hinders combustion and keeps the CO₂ concentration relatively low.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of hinders
Noun
  • Riverdale In Riverdale, three candidates filed to run for mayor, including former Trustee Cassandra Riley-Pinkney, who was appointed interim mayor after former Mayor Lawrence Jackson was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in November.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Don’t hide files or shut down computers; doing so would look like obstruction.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstruction
Verb
  • Jay Ajayi ties an NFL record by surpassing 200 yards rushing for the second game in a row, helping the Miami Dolphins rally past the Buffalo Bills 28-25.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The robe features a small belt that ties together at the back, a leash opening at the top, and a velcro closure.
    — Tim Chan, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of ties

Browse Nearby Words

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shackles
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Cite this Entry

“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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