as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
authorities eventually unfettered the menagerie of wild animals that had been kept illegally as pets
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Recent Examples of unfetter
His long run in office, however, delivered only partial victories on his two primary ambitions: to unfetter Japan’s military after decades of postwar pacifism and to jump-start and overhaul its economy through a program known as Abenomics.
—
New York Times, 8 July 2022
As spring ends, maple trees begin to unfetter winged seeds that flutter and swirl from branches to land gently on the ground.
—Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2021
By manufacturing satellite components in space, Made In Space hopes to unfetter some of those launch constraints.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2019
Unfettered by worries about his relationship, Caldwell thrived.
—Jason Blevins, The Denver Post, 18 May 2017
New York Times, 8 July 2022
As spring ends, maple trees begin to unfetter winged seeds that flutter and swirl from branches to land gently on the ground.
—Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2021
By manufacturing satellite components in space, Made In Space hopes to unfetter some of those launch constraints.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2019
Unfettered by worries about his relationship, Caldwell thrived.
—Jason Blevins, The Denver Post, 18 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfetter
Verb
-
People both young and old, lonely and less lonely, those blessed with a family home, and even couples freed up the tram for us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Lilia, her mother and her aunt try to free a bird that has made its way into the house.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And when that happens, stool, fluids, and gas get shuttled toward your rectum, from where they can be liberated into the free world.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
SELF,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Milan marked that day by naming a prominent square in the city’s center April 25 Plaza for the day the uprising that liberated Milan began.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But its last shutdown plan, released in late September, indicates that 91% of its employees would continue to work without pay.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
On day four of the search, the Guthrie siblings released a video on social media.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But Armenia didn’t need rescuing.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Earlier this evening, members of our Scuba Team, Aviation Unit, Emergency Service Unit, and the @FDNY rescued three individuals from frozen waters in Far Rockaway.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Reheat it in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a splash or two of chicken broth or water to loosen the sauce as needed.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Los Angeles loosened conversion rules, allowing commercial buildings just 15 years old to become housing with streamlined city approvals instead of lengthy reviews.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The actress would go on to struggle with addiction issues and in February 1991, emancipated herself at the age of 14.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
-
All the black captives in liberated territories were emancipated, and Amador was proclaimed king.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfetter. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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