SHACKLING Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

shackling

verb

present participle of shackle

as in binding

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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as in hampering

to create difficulty for the work or activity of shackled by poverty and ignorance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shackling There is nothing just about shackling people that have never committed a crime. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026 Both players played well, Romero shackling Jude Bellingham for much of the evening, Spence producing a famous recovery tackle on Giuliano Simeone when England were 1-0 up. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Khushboo Gupta, vice president of policy at PETA India, said the aesthetic appeal of live elephants doesn’t justify shackling, beating and separating them from their families. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 In 2019, David and Louise Turpin pleaded guilty to torture and years of abuse that included shackling some of their 13 children at their home in California, starving them and providing only a minimal education. — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 The Baltimore region has suffered too long from underinvestment in transit services — which is shackling economic growth, harming the environment and constraining quality of life for families. — Brandon Scott, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026 Men are often the ones in those ICE facilities who are shackling and chaining detainees. — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 7 Feb. 2026 In Wisconsin, a bill that would restrict shackling inmates while in labor — something most states already ban — has repeatedly failed to pass the state Legislature. — Jon Schuppe, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shackling

Verb

Each round took seven to 10 days and involved synthesizing DNA candidates, testing their binding behavior and using sequencing results to guide subsequent designs.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
The 10th Circuit governs federal district courts in six states—Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming—and its rulings are influential, though not binding, elsewhere.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of binding

Verb

Kyiv sees this as an attempt to pressure it into concessions by hampering its aerial defense and military operations.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
Virus-carrying midges are hampering deer season in South Dakota, where an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease has prompted South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to issue deer license refunds.

— Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

Hunter's interception led to Jacksonville's drive and Little’s game-tying field goal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton led a long, game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble with 58 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs driving for a potential go-ahead field goal.

— Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of tying

Verb

The insects tunnel their way into the trunk, impeding the tree’s water and nutrient supply and killing it within a year.

— Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
There’s also a 24-hour gym, a light and airy place with multiple cardio machines, weight training equipment, and floor space for yoga, stretching, or floor exercises (and enough room to do so without impeding on anyone else’s space).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

And warming temperatures are hindering their ability to perform essential functions.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
But DistroKid nevertheless hit Sahunta with a copyright strike, freezing his royalty payments and potentially hindering his ability to put out future releases.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

Luck was not widespread among Wednesday’s Florida Lotto, Fantasy 5 and Powerball drawings, confining itself to a single ticket.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
If youth teams practiced like the pros, confining full contact to once a week, impacts could fall by more than half, Daneshvar says.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of confining

Verb

One deputy was caught directly under branches and the tree's trunk, but was spared in part by the SUV obstructing the fall.

— Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
In addition to the outstanding warrants, the suspects also face charges for theft and obstructing peace officers.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstructing

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shackles

shackling

shacks

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

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Synonyms of shackling

verb

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