trammel 1 of 2

trammel

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb trammel contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of trammel are clog, fetter, hamper, manacle, and shackle. While all these words mean "to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting," trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

In what contexts can clog take the place of trammel?

The meanings of clog and trammel largely overlap; however, clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

When is it sensible to use fetter instead of trammel?

Although the words fetter and trammel have much in common, 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 hamper a more appropriate choice than trammel?

The words hamper and trammel are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

How is shackle related to other words for trammel?

Both shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice
a people manacled by tyranny

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 trammel
Noun
In the middle of the Mediterranean, off the coast of the island nation of Malta, a professional fisherman dropped his trammel net into the water. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025 The moment comes right before America Ferrera’s big monologue about the trammels of womanhood, when Robbie soliloquizes, too, about the loss of her self-esteem. Wesley Morris, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Step 2: Measure and Cut Cubby Dividers Use trammel points to mark a rounded edge (an arc with a 7-1/2-inch radius) on three 6-1/2 x 19-inch boards. Lucy Fitzgerald, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024 Join the top and drop leaf; then use a large trammel to mark the curved edge. Thomas Klenck, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2021
Verb
Children arrive into a trammeling grid of haves and have-nots set up long before their birth, a net that individual struggles serve only to tighten. Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 Diggs was trammeled by knee issues throughout 2023 as the 26-year-old was sidelined for 15 games after tearing his left ACL. Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024 The Founders gave an independent judiciary the responsibility of preventing the other branches from trammeling fundamental liberties of citizens. oregonlive, 23 Jan. 2020 The Patriots defense, which is on pace to break NFL records for most sacks and fewest points allowed, has trammeled and trampled opposing offenses, but the schedule keeps serving up red meat or raw quarterbacks for them to prey upon. BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2019 Now the area is brimming with new construction, and Ms. Medvedow, 63, is leading her institution into another less-trammeled area. New York Times, 22 June 2018 Those federal laws, along with state and local equivalents, provide broad and effective remedies for unequal pay without trammeling the hiring process. Gerald Skoning, WSJ, 12 Dec. 2017 When applied to armed protests, that mindset takes our country to a dangerous place: The Second Amendment and state open carry laws cannot trammel the free speech rights of unarmed protesters and the necessity for law enforcement to keep the peace. Olivia Li, Slate Magazine, 17 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trammel
Noun
  • Shiffrin doesn't view this as an obstacle either, nor something to fear at this stage of the game.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Minister Kabawat’s optimism comes despite immense obstacles.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • These measurements confirmed that the metals were not forming nanoparticles but were dispersed as single atoms, chemically bound within the carbon framework in the favourable coordination environment — the secret sauce to their exceptional performance, according to a press release.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The correlation seemed to suggest that space was alive with invisible forces that bound together the variable environments of the Sun and Earth.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Six citizens were arrested for impeding and threatening to kill agents.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Martinez has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers.
    Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Arrests were made for offenses including obstruction of the highway, hindering law enforcement duties, and assault on police.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Observing and recording law enforcement is generally protected, but warning people to avoid arrest or physically interfering with ICE operations could be considered obstruction.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The beloved couple of Ruzek and Burgess — known as Burzek — tied the knot in the season 12 finale.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
  • In the bottom of the seventh inning, with runners on second and third with nobody out, George Springer stepped to the plate with the chance to tie a 3-1 ball game in favor of the Seattle Mariners, a team desperate for its first-ever World Series appearance in franchise history.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Food crumbs and debris can hinder gas flow or cause uneven burning.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Can what’s hindering the Chargers’ defense be fixed in only a matter of days?
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Shooting presented unique logistical hurdles, with different sequences filmed across multiple golf courses around Manila’s peripheries due to restrictions.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
  • But economists warned Argentina’s assets — and the US government’s bet on Milei’s success — still face hurdles.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What was once a taboo activity, confined to the fringes of society, has been completely normalized.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Journalists aren’t confined to one medium anymore.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trammel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trammel. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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