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
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Initial efforts to free it and coax it back toward deeper water, including using coast guard and fire department boats to create large waves, were unsuccessful.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Ahead of the larger summer crowds, Makwana said police will have support from park rangers and parking enforcement officers to free up SDPD officers to focus on public safety issues.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her life as portrayed on Mormon Wives is that of a loose cannon who struggles to liberate herself from toxic romantic entanglements, running directly counter to The Bachelor’s fantasy of happily-ever-after.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Seven years ago the show’s season-two finale ended with Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) turning herself in for pushing Perry down the stairs and the Monterey Five finally being liberated from their big lie.—
Natasha Reda,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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He was released on bail late Friday night, according to The Associated Press.—
Melissa Gaffney,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Aaron spent long hours at his computer answering queries, fixing bugs, and releasing updates to serve his growing base.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Emma said the Russian government showed little interest in rescuing her sister, pointing to Elizabeth's public opinions online as a human rights activist.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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This gentle girl was a stray who was rescued and has adjusted well to her new environment.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yet the air campaign, costing billions of dollars, has not forced Iran to capitulate and loosen its grip on the strait.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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Researchers studying sinus physiology have long observed that gentle vibration can help loosen mucus and encourage natural drainage.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Colorado law ties teens to their parents unless they can get emancipated by the court.—
Fraidy Reiss,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Unfetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfetter. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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