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
Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
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
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
The short life of Alexander Hamilton both feeds and fetters Vaill’s project.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
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
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
-
Later that month, a judge lifted the restriction and ordered that Hildebrandt must put $100,000 from the potential sale in a bank account for the children, according to ABC7.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Local blackout restrictions for Marlins would be eliminated in that scenario.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Throughout both films, Stern's Marv is subjected to some of the worst obstacles set up to protect Keven, including stepping on a nail barefoot, taking a hot iron to the face and bricks to the head, and surviving an electrocution.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Alignment is the key to overcoming obstacles.—
Karen Hinds,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The burger chain originally opened in 1982 near the corner of C Street and Elvas Avenue in East Sacramento, according to previous Bee reporting.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Maybe the implications of binding yourself in chains?—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When Lawrence wears it, it's bound to be a trend—sheer and floral resurgence, incoming.—
Irene Kim,
Vogue,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Supreme Court in July agreed to hear the separate appeals from the states and is expected to issue final, binding rulings on the merits by late June.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The game officials ruled that Gobert impeded Wembanyama's ability to safely land on the follow-through from his jump shot, giving him six flagrant foul points for the season.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The city also asks residents not to physically engage with ICE operations and not to throw objects or impede federal law enforcement.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers say the work could dramatically expand the range of treatable cancers and genetic diseases by overcoming long-standing data and technical constraints in gene therapy.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Space constraints could curtail the installation of a comfortably sized concourse, and who’s going to pay for stadium maintenance?—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But that process was slowed by procedural hurdles.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
-
While still a hurdle for million of Americans, financing costs have eased slightly in recent months.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Demin hit a 3-pointer with six seconds to go to tie it, and Banchero missed a 30-footer at the buzzer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Schnapp also spoke to PEOPLE about the series ending, insisting that all loose ends had been tied — even his character’s longstanding crush on his best friend Mike (Wolfhard).—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetter. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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