shackle
noun
a ring or other fastening, as of iron, for securing the wrist, ankle, etc.; fetter.
shackled
-
past participleof shackle.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof shackle.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
shacklenouna ring or other fastening, as of iron, for securing the wrist, ankle, etc.; fetter.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some directly confronted the brothers, who sat at the defense tables in tan jail garb with their ankles shackled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
His feet were shackled and he held his hands behind his back, although US marshals had not handcuffed him.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Even those atas who try to break away often find themselves shackled to their old masters.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
A 65-year-old British woman named Karen Newman traveling on a valid tourist visa was arrested in September 2025 at the Montana border, shackled and held for six weeks in an ICE detention center.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Order the modern lamb chop, and it's likely to look no different than your companion's order of shackled pompano.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
