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

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

King appeared in a gray and white, striped prison suit, with his hands manacled at his waist. — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 21 Jan. 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 chain replaced its soft bun with a more sturdier version, changed the recipe for its mayonnaise and now serves it in a box instead of wrapped in paper.

— Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
After the pandemic, a national chain of Pilates studios reported 71 percent year-on-year growth in membership among men, as cited by GQ.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of chain

Noun

When children are experiencing poor educational outcomes, at what point does opposition to an alternative become an obstacle to giving families another opportunity?

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Kids today face tremendous obstacles, but perhaps because of the pandemic, many, like Keira, are well-rounded and involved in work, school, extracurricular activities and devoted to their friends and family.

— Nicole Russell, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of obstacle

Verb

Another confounding detail surrounding Ge’s death is that when he was found, his hands and feet were bound, and bedsheet strips were tied around his chest, according to his autopsy report.

— Connor Greene, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
Self-exclusion in particular only binds licensed operators, which is why offshore sites target people who have signed up for it.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of bind

Verb

Collapsed buildings East Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Rudi Darmoko said power outages hampered the spread of information about the impact of the earthquake in cities and villages, complicating search and rescue efforts.

— Yacob Herin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The attack is hampered further by uncertainty over when left-winger Kaoru Mitoma will be available to return from hamstring surgery.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of hamper

Noun

Russia's small and medium businesses already have been hit hard by tax increases, regulatory hurdles and, most recently, a fuel crisis from attacks on oil refineries.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Harper Hutton, 12, of Aurora Flyers, placed second in the girls pentathlon high jump, fourth in the pentathlon 80-meter hurdles and pentathlon long jump and fifth in the girls pentathlon shot put.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurdle

Browse Nearby Words

mana

manacle

manacled

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Style

“Manacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manacle. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of manacle

noun

verb

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