1
as in restriction
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
a time-honored tradition is fine as long as it doesn't become a fetter that prevents us from trying something new
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
claims that government regulations are unnecessary fetters that keep him from achieving his business goals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chain
something that physically prevents free movement
considered a seat belt a pointless fetter—until one saved his life in an auto accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
museum artifacts that serve as somber reminders of the days when slaves were fettered with irons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the belief that too many rules and restrictions fetter children's creativity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fetter
Lia Beck, EW.com, 25 June 2025
But Trump famously wriggles free from such fetters and resists being hemmed in.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
One man even contrived somehow to get across while still in iron fetters.
—Adam Goodheart, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023
Its stage is where King Kong broke his fetters in the 1933 movie.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
This early recording is unique—brisk and pugnacious, a stormy, bitter Schubert raging against his earthly fetters and then distilling his passions, in the last movement, into headlong lunges, dazzling whirls, and delicate pirouettes.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2020
And then there’s the New Deal, another famous attempt to slap fetters on the rough beast of capitalism.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
It’s become a common refrain by the government that the president’s executive power cannot be fettered by the courts.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2025
Our vote, secret and simple, not fettered by any AI or the eyes of an authoritarian who threatens those who disagree with him, ensures that our union endures.
—John D. Witiak, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2024
Ruskin felt insulted and legally fettered by the verdict.
—Adrian Dannatt, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2023
Certain wandered between rows of mannequins fettered with leg irons, claustrophobic dungeon cells and a towering guillotine.
—Jeremy Redmon, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023
After the beating, he was fettered in iron chains around his ankles, which would rub his skin raw.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023
Teddy Roosevelt broke up the trusts, regulated the food supply, created the National Park System, and fettered the railroads.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
Botany was also often fettered to expertise in gardening, another activity that fell within the realm of the feminine.
—Amandas Ong, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2018
Noun
Like all great period romances, Maurice places aching desire at the forefront, with the men's palpable yearning made all the more soul-shattering by the fetters of their time.
—Lia Beck, EW.com, 25 June 2025
But Trump famously wriggles free from such fetters and resists being hemmed in.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
One man even contrived somehow to get across while still in iron fetters.
—Adam Goodheart, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023
Its stage is where King Kong broke his fetters in the 1933 movie.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
This early recording is unique—brisk and pugnacious, a stormy, bitter Schubert raging against his earthly fetters and then distilling his passions, in the last movement, into headlong lunges, dazzling whirls, and delicate pirouettes.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2020
And then there’s the New Deal, another famous attempt to slap fetters on the rough beast of capitalism.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
Verb
This comes in the wake of millions of apps being dumped from Play Store for not being good enough and an expansion of Google’s Play Integrity API to fetter app behaviors on phones no longer eligible for security updates — Android 12 or older.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
It’s become a common refrain by the government that the president’s executive power cannot be fettered by the courts.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 19 Mar. 2025
Our vote, secret and simple, not fettered by any AI or the eyes of an authoritarian who threatens those who disagree with him, ensures that our union endures.
—John D. Witiak, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2024
Ruskin felt insulted and legally fettered by the verdict.
—Adrian Dannatt, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2023
Certain wandered between rows of mannequins fettered with leg irons, claustrophobic dungeon cells and a towering guillotine.
—Jeremy Redmon, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023
After the beating, he was fettered in iron chains around his ankles, which would rub his skin raw.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023
Teddy Roosevelt broke up the trusts, regulated the food supply, created the National Park System, and fettered the railroads.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
Botany was also often fettered to expertise in gardening, another activity that fell within the realm of the feminine.
—Amandas Ong, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fetter
Noun
-
Trump has imposed wide-ranging tariffs on much of the world, carried out a mass deportation program, and introduced restrictions on legal immigration, including the most recent change to the H-1B program.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The existing Kwik Trip store will be put up for sale with a deed restriction that does not allow a convenience store or fueling station to be in its place, according to village documents.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This small but mighty cleaner has dual side brushes, multiple cleaning modes, and obstacle-avoidance technology.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Yet despite these obstacles, Pita’s voice has only grown louder, emerging as a leading figure in the global conversation on democracy and reform.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
By the end of the year, the grocery store and home goods chain will have opened eight new supercenters and neighborhood markets across the United States, Charles Crowson, a Walmart spokesperson, told USA TODAY this week.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Amazon debuted its Fresh grocery chain in 2020, with an eye toward mass-market shoppers.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Supreme Court is not bound by what those lower court judges have said or even its own past rulings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2025
-
In this study, researchers discovered that RNA from yeast can bind with proteins in beer, creating microscopic particles that scatter light.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The scandal has already impeded the effort to hold Israel accountable for the death toll in Gaza; the woman fears that anger at Israel might now lead members of the assembly to discount her story and, instead, side with Khan.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
-
However, 76ers guard Kennedy Chandler impeded his path, and Hart hit the hardwood in clear pain.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Shaw said better compensation could help reduce turnover further, but districts may struggle to offer raises due to budget constraints.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The struggle of artistic pursuit against personal and political constraints is a subtext embedded throughout An Unfinished Film.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The award had stock price hurdles of $350 and $400 and Clarke got no long-term equity grants in 2020, 2022, and 2023.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Ren also noted practical hurdles.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Vendors will be on site and a fly tying demonstration by local guide Brian Wise will take place.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Stott still made it to third base later in the inning as the tying run, but the Phillies stranded him there.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetter. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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