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shackle

2 synonyms and 5 antonyms for shackle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To restrain someone with chains or metal restraints.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To restrain someone with chains or metal restraints.

“The prisoner was shackled at the wrists and ankles.”

Opposites

2. verb

To restrict or hold back someone's freedom or progress.

“Heavy debt shackled the young couple for years.”

Opposites

How to use shackle

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

shackled by debt shackle a prisoner shackled ankles

Etymology

From Middle English schakelen, related to the noun shackle, meaning a metal ring or link used as a restraint.

Full origin of shackle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “shackle” mean?
The word “shackle” means to restrain someone with chains or metal restraints. In plain terms, to physically restrain with chains, or figuratively to hold something back from progress.
How do you pronounce “shackle”?
“Shackle” is pronounced SHAKL (/ˈʃæk(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “shackle” in a sentence?
Here is “shackle” used in a sentence: “The prisoner was shackled at the wrists and ankles.”
What part of speech is “shackle”?
“Shackle” is a verb.
Where does the word “shackle” come from?
The word “shackle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English schakelen, related to the noun shackle, meaning a metal ring or link used as a restraint.
How many meanings does “shackle” have?
“Shackle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to restrain someone with chains or metal restraints.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.