1
as in chain
something that physically prevents free movement
placed shackles on the legs of the prisoners
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
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
1
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
2
as in to hinder
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
shackled by poverty and ignorance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shackle
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
This is about shaking off the shackles of those one-size-fits-all limitations.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Mangione, his feet shackled, wore a tan jail suit and sported a chinstrap beard at Friday's hearing, a departure from his usual clean-shaven look.
—Michael R. Sisak, Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shackle
Noun
After the procedure was completed, the shackles were not reapplied, a lapse the sheriff's office said directly contributed to his escape.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
This is about shaking off the shackles of those one-size-fits-all limitations.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
The immigrants are shackled and placed on flights to detention facilities in Texas, where they are forced to recount painful asylum claims with limited or no contact with family members or attorneys, lawyers and advocates say.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Mangione, his feet shackled, wore a tan jail suit and sported a chinstrap beard at Friday's hearing, a departure from his usual clean-shaven look.
—Michael R. Sisak, Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shackle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackle
Noun
-
In Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood on the Saturday before Halloween, officers arrested a man and triggered a chain of events that ended with them shoving a father in a yellow duck costume to the ground and breaking the ribs of a 67-year-old resident.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
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The driver of a northbound vehicle veered into the southbound lanes, hitting one car head-on and causing a chain-reaction crash, authorities said.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Well, there was a great deal left in me, in an agony of embarrassment looking around for that hole on the floor to crawl into.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
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But anomaly detection may have prevented embarrassments like the one at OPERA.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mobilization is people taking action that is time-bound and sending a message, which is important, Strano said.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The last time such cuts occurred — more than a decade ago — aircraft bound for Europe refueled in Nassau, Bahamas, the pilot recalled.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These wafers offer fewer recombination sites, which can significantly enhance electrical performance, but their practical use has been hindered by fragility.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
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The shutdown will hinder Noem’s efforts to pivot away from Minneapolis.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This tiara, which arrived as a complete jewelry set consisting of earrings, two bracelets and a brooch, was bestowed as a royal gift to the new queen.—
Marta Martínez Tato,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
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Sponsored by Wickford Artisans, this 25+ event offers bubbly, delectable desserts and a chance to make a charm necklace or bracelet with pieces from &LIVY.—
Susan McDonald,
The Providence Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The deadly mass shooting at a school in British Columbia came as Canadian authorities face significant obstacles in rolling out a nationwide firearms buyback that is mired in practical and logistical complications.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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Over the next 10 years, the Goo Goo Dolls would follow a trajectory of seemingly insurmountable obstacles and increasingly unlikely triumphs that more closely resembles a fictional underdog team from a Disney movie than a rock band.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Richardo Gonzalez and Justin Leonard are tied for third, four shots behind Toms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Second baseman Cole Cramer singled to score Franco and tie the game.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dozens of felony cases against protesters accused of assaulting or impeding federal officers have also crumbled.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Along with this comes a lack of awareness about eating disorders, stigma and unhealthy attitudes and assumptions toward mental health from coaches and other athletic personnel, all of which can impede an athlete’s likelihood of seeking care.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackle. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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