as in unleashed
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Dissimilar Words
as in freed
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unfettered
Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
The focus is on Melania’s return as first lady, and director Brett Ratner puts his cameras on her with unfettered access — supposedly — in the 20 days leading to Donald Trump‘s second inauguration.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
The executive branch does not have unfettered power, and Congress is not a bystander.
—Eric Balliet, Denver Post, 28 Jan. 2026
Any way of thinking that is so narcissistically obsessed with Germany and Europe was always likely to trap him in allegiance to an unfettered European ally.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfettered
Adjective
Most importantly, the Dean entities themselves were sued in 1992, a case that led to them winning unfettered ownership of his image in a landmark case that found movie studios’ contracts with actors did not give them merchandising rights.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
The focus is on Melania’s return as first lady, and director Brett Ratner puts his cameras on her with unfettered access — supposedly — in the 20 days leading to Donald Trump‘s second inauguration.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
The executive branch does not have unfettered power, and Congress is not a bystander.
—Eric Balliet, Denver Post, 28 Jan. 2026
Any way of thinking that is so narcissistically obsessed with Germany and Europe was always likely to trap him in allegiance to an unfettered European ally.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unfettered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfettered
Adjective
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One barrier cited in follow-up research was concern among some visitors about unleashed dogs in rural areas.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
After agents repeatedly ordered protesters to move out of the road, a tear gas canister was unleashed on the crowd.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The deal follows an eventful few years for Spears, who managed to finally be freed of a 13-year conservatorship back in 2021.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Feb. 2026
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Michael Skakel was convicted of killing Martha Moxley, but freed from prison after a court deemed his lawyer incompetent.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, pleaded with President Lincoln to allow Blacks to be able to join the Union.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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An ambush at a Boise hospital left three Department of Correction officers with gunshot wounds and two suspects, including an escaped prisoner, fleeing from the scene.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is a delicate, unexpectedly powerful slice of cinema literally unveiled, the filmmakers as liberated as the characters hope to one day be.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
3 Feb. 2026
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Haiti liberated itself from France in 1804.—
Ruth Jean-Marie,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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However, on multiple visits to the neighborhood, the two dogs were unchained in the yard during different times of the day and night, the Herald observed.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Key Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was arrested by heavily armed men on Sunday night, his supporters said, just hours after he had been released from a jail where he was held as a political prisoner.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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According to a statement released by Bad Bunny’s publicist, the couple had first invited Bad Bunny to attend their wedding but were instead invited to be part of the Apple Music halftime show performance.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Oceanside fire crews rescued the driver of a semi-truck that crashed on Interstate 5 near Harbor Drive early Wednesday, leaving the cab dangling 70 feet above the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Austin’s brother and sister were ultimately rescued along with their mother Joanne, 47, after being found clinging to a paddleboard.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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It’s filled with super-heightened emotions; unrestrained passion, betrayal, evil and even a magic spell or two.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Feb. 2026
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Without a replacement deal in place, Sokov fears an unrestrained arms race is likely — not right away, but in five to seven years from now — with the nations pursuing more accurate, sophisticated weapons that are harder to intercept, rather than just increasing warhead numbers.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unfettered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfettered. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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