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
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Both managers could take the shackles off as both teams need a win to give themselves a chance of qualifying.
—
The Athletic Soccer Experts,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Haiti is the world’s first Black independent republic after African slaves defeated Napoleon’s army and broke the shackles of slavery.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2026
Last year, video of Collins placing shackles on a white woman’s wrists at the museum gained attention on social media.
—
Terry Tang,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The National Historic Park now displays chains and shackles in concrete along with information about the area's history.
—
Usa Today Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
His Department of Homeland Security regularly posts photos of people being deported, emphasizing and celebrating their shackles.
—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
In some ways this is like many postcolonial nations in the Global South, although Norway’s claims to being a postcolonial country recently freed from the shackles of foreign domination are difficult to sustain in the face of its treatment of indigenous people like the Sámi.
—
Ola Morris Innset,
The Dial,
2 June 2026
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
Noun
Given the cameras in the courtroom, his defense argued – much like lawyers have in Tyler Robinson’s case in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk – that his appearance in shackles and a prison outfit could influence potential jurors.
—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
Both managers could take the shackles off as both teams need a win to give themselves a chance of qualifying.
—
The Athletic Soccer Experts,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Haiti is the world’s first Black independent republic after African slaves defeated Napoleon’s army and broke the shackles of slavery.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2026
Last year, video of Collins placing shackles on a white woman’s wrists at the museum gained attention on social media.
—
Terry Tang,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The National Historic Park now displays chains and shackles in concrete along with information about the area's history.
—
Usa Today Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
His Department of Homeland Security regularly posts photos of people being deported, emphasizing and celebrating their shackles.
—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
In some ways this is like many postcolonial nations in the Global South, although Norway’s claims to being a postcolonial country recently freed from the shackles of foreign domination are difficult to sustain in the face of its treatment of indigenous people like the Sámi.
—
Ola Morris Innset,
The Dial,
2 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackles
Noun
-
But even Johnson is not immune to the bruising consequences of dealing with a president who critics say treats Congress as an obstacle, instead of an equal — frequently flexing his power through executive orders.
-
Crews can drive directly into rivers or lakes without installing additional equipment, allowing the vehicle to continue moving even when water obstacles stand in the way.
Verb
-
Making Connections And Mentoring Another thing going for region is the glue the binds much of it together - a thriving community of connectors and mentors based there offering programs to help early-stage deep tech startups scale up.
-
Phytic acid binds directly to HDAC3 and turns on its activity.
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
Noun
-
However, there are still some hurdles to surmount, particularly financing.
-
Here’s how experts suggest overcoming these hurdles.
Verb
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To address this, Ivo uses a multi-step pipeline that chains together more than 400 model calls for each contract review.
-
Tokyo Central is owned by Japanese company Pan Pacific Retail Management, which also runs the grocery chains Gelson’s and Don Quijote.
Verb
-
This systemic lack of dedicated time for preparation and collaboration undermines school improvement efforts, makes the teaching profession less attractive, and directly hinders high-quality instruction.
-
This is due, in large part, to expectations of a strong El Niño, which traditionally hinders storm development.
Noun
-
He was charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence in connection with this case.
-
Amber Moree, 21, was arrested on Tuesday and has been charged with accessory after the fact of murder, obstruction of justice and misprision, according to the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Verb
-
The Composer ties together all aspects of the factory (machines, conveyors, sensors, and logistics flows) into a unified simulation.
-
This full moon arrives in the zodiac sign of Capricorn, which ties to ambition and the great structures in our lives.
Cite this Entry
“Shackles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shackles. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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