MANACLE Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'manacle' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manacle are clog , fetter , hamper , shackle , 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 might 'clog' be a better fit than 'manacle'?

Although the words clog and manacle have much in common, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering. // a court system clogged by frivolous suits

Q: When would 'fetter' be a good substitute for 'manacle'?

The words fetter and manacle can be used in similar contexts, but 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 is it sensible to use 'hamper' instead of 'manacle'?

The synonyms hamper and manacle are sometimes interchangeable, but hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence. // hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

Q: When can 'trammel' be used instead of 'manacle'?

The words trammel and manacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net. // rules that trammel the artist's creativity

manacle 1 of 2

noun

ˈma-ni-kəl

Definition of manacle

as in chain

usually manacles plural something that physically prevents free movement manacles prevented the bear from roaming beyond a very small area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in obstacle

something that makes movement or progress difficult the warring groups need to shake off the manacle of their troubled past and learn to live with one another in peace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

manacle

2 of 2

verb

as in to bind

to confine or restrain with or as if with chains manacled the prisoner to the wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to hamper

to create difficulty for the work or activity of in this situation, the police are manacled by unnecessary regulations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb manacle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of manacle are clog, fetter, hamper, shackle, 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 might clog be a better fit than manacle?

Although the words clog and manacle have much in common, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When would fetter be a good substitute for manacle?

The words fetter and manacle can be used in similar contexts, but fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

When is it sensible to use hamper instead of manacle?

The synonyms hamper and manacle are sometimes interchangeable, but hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

When can trammel be used instead of manacle?

The words trammel and manacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

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 manacle

Noun

Speaking to Morgan during an interview released on YouTube on Tuesday, British national Yiannopoulos, 41, recounted how his hands and feet were chained together with manacles. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 Beneath it, on the left side of the page, was a picture of Jackson in manacles. — Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024 During the trial, Wilber wore a manacle around his ankle and a stun belt on his arm. — Sarah Volpenhein, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022 How to Be an Antiracist is a journal of Kendi's efforts to free himself of the ideological manacles clamped upon him by a society suffused with white supremacism, capitalist exploitation, misogyny and the repression of unconventional sexuality. — Dallas News, 26 Aug. 2019 From every officer’s belt there dangled an insectlike furl of disposable plastic manacles. — Caleb Crain, Harper's magazine, 22 July 2019 The genie is literally the slave of the lamp, his power bracelets actually manacles keeping him obedient to an endless round of masters. — Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 12 June 2019 The cellar dungeons were complete with bolts, chains and manacles for securing captives to the floors. — Jonathan W. White, Smithsonian, 27 Feb. 2018

Verb

Shelton’s serve had manacled him just enough; the first set’s effort had tired him just enough. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Once the detainees were on board, agents brought in a van with dozens of women, also manacled, to board next. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 10 June 2025 Drugged, kidnapped, and manacled while a pitiless killer wears her face. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 July 2024 The scandal is that, instead of doing his duty, the attorney general manacled his own Justice Department’s investigation. — The Editors, National Review, 21 July 2023 His hands were manacled to a chain belt at his waist, and his feet were bound by leg irons. — Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 4 Dec. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for manacle

Noun

The contract covers engineering, technical assistance, technology integration, supply-chain development, workforce training and digital transformation initiatives.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
About 700 French supermarkets were affected, with one chain reporting losses of tens of millions of euros in a day; Dutch stores also faced a separate cybersecurity incident disrupting deliveries.

— John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of chain

Noun

There’s outward social and internalized pressure on the Dashwood sisters to marry, and do it quickly, but per any Austen tale, the path is blotchy and blocked by obstacles and second-guessing.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
During robot operation, LiDAR supplies information about the surrounding environment, helping the framework account for obstacles and available clearance.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

Also, a decision by a federal appeals court binds federal district courts within its jurisdiction—here, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming—and serves as influential precedent elsewhere.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
His hands and legs were bound, duct tape covered his face, and his body was burned and showed signs of decomposition, according to the record.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of bind

Verb

Capturing towns and roads would hamper Tigrayan fighters without necessarily securing the vast rural areas where the rebel forces regrouped during the previous war, Taylor said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Otherwise, the chemicals can react against each other and hamper recyclability, or worse, release harmful byproducts into the environment.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of hamper

Noun

According to bond counsel, the amendment excludes the city's older 2018 and 2021 bonds from certain utility rate covenant and parity debt calculations.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Voters approved $250 million in bonds in 2018 to help build and repair affordable housing, followed by another $350 million in 2022.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of bond

Noun

Our main hurdle has always been convincing people to pay for a cinema ticket to watch two episodes of a series.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Most of the K-pop festivals that have been announced over the last few years never went ahead due to various logistical hurdles.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurdle

Verb

In this economy, the value of luxury assets like art, watches and fine jewelry is tied to their ability to signal that their owners can afford what others cannot.

— Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore is running a Creator Pitch Challenge tied to its 40th anniversary, while Bloomr.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of tie

Verb

Past popes have written letters of resignation in case of a severe illness or medical emergency that impedes them from carrying out their duties.

— Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies and practices that facilitate violations of federal law or impede lawful federal operations, the department said.

— Eric Henderson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of impede

Browse Nearby Words

mana

manacle

manacled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Manacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manacle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of manacle

noun

verb

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