noun
- a metal fastener, typically consisting of two curved pieces that can be locked together, used to chain a person’s hands or feet
- something that restricts freedom or prevents progress
Usage: figurative
verb
- to chain someone’s hands or feet with shackles
- to restrict or limit someone’s freedom or ability to act
Usage: figurative
Examples
- The prisoner’s ankles were bound with heavy iron shackles.
- She felt the shackles of poverty holding her back from pursuing her dreams.
- The guards shackled the dangerous criminal before transporting him to court.
- Outdated regulations continue to shackle the company’s growth.
- He broke free from the shackles that had confined him for years.
- The rusty shackles lay abandoned in the old dungeon.
- Don’t let fear shackle your potential for success.