unfetter

verb

ˌən-ˈfe-tər How to pronounce unfetter (audio)
Definition of unfetternext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unfetter Unfettered by worries about his relationship, Caldwell thrived. — Jason Blevins, The Denver Post, 18 May 2017 By manufacturing satellite components in space, Made In Space hopes to unfetter some of those launch constraints. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2019 The Safdies are pointedly effective in capturing the way in which a chaotic city’s overall rhythm goes on unfettered even as a character experiences a horrific disruption or glitch in one small part of it. — Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfetter
  1. free
  2. liberate
  3. release
  4. rescue
  5. loosen
  6. emancipate
Verb
  • Crews stabilized the pickup before performing a technical extrication to free the driver.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • The flywheel does not need to be replaced every 3-5 years and can be installed outdoors, freeing up more space and cash for compute.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of free
Verb
  • Shedding infrastructure is liberating only if there's a real relationship or service advantage underneath it.
    — Mushfig Aliyev, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • When the United States invaded the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, Twain naively imagined that the country would be liberated and turned into a republic.
    — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of liberate
Verb
  • Nuclear fusion is the process of combining two hydrogen atoms to form one helium atom, releasing huge amounts of energy.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • Prior to the hearing, the Kirk family released a statement on social media.
    — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of release
Verb
  • Police rescued the girls after the 17-year-old called a dispatcher on June 4 and said she was being trafficked and needed help.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
  • The pilot was rescued soon after and the weapon system officer was rescued two days later.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of rescue
Verb
  • Matching trousers stayed narrow through the hips before loosening down the leg into a slight flare.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
  • As summer arrives, snow begins melting, ice hardens and rocks loosen, increasing the risk of falls and rockfall.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of loosen
Verb
  • Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of Shakespeare’s Othello and how ancient plays can emancipate readers from some of their modern prejudices.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
  • The long shadow of the occupation Twenty-three years after George Bush and Tony Blair resolved that Iraqis were to be emancipated, the country remains captive to a masquerade of power.
    — Nabil Salih, Time, 26 May 2026
Definition of emancipate

Browse Nearby Words

unfertile
unfetter
unfettered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfetter. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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