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
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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
-
Both Poland and Latvia announced new restrictions on Thursday.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Once magnets for buyers seeking sunshine – and often looser Covid restrictions – demand has started to cool off in these states.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The difficulty in getting rid of players other than those whose contracts expired this summer (Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez and Jesus Vallejo) was a significant obstacle.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
To overcome this obstacle, the MIT team employed lithium-6 atoms, a rare isotope whose resonance frequency shifts depending on temperature.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This past July, the conservative advocacy group America First Legal requested a federal investigation of the chain due to its alleged discrimination against white employees.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The death sets off a chain of events that forces Lilian to revisit her fractured family life and complicated bond with her ex-husband.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Once technology companies weed out junior roles, occupied by Gen Zers, their workforces are bound to rise in age.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Unlike pension funds or institutional investors bound to reporting cycles, family offices can afford to wait.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Bundys and several others in the vehicles were arrested and charged with multiple federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede federal officers.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Algorithmic Literacy requires genuine technical comprehension of AI capabilities, constraints, and ethical implications.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather told Axios that resource constraints complicate efforts to intervene earlier.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even if the discharge petition is successful, the underlying bill would have to clear many more hurdles.—
Emily Brooks,
The Hill,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Reports have also pointed to practical hurdles for Optimus, including production bottlenecks, hand dexterity issues, and leadership turnover on the program.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Through two games, the Ragin’ Cajuns have held opponents to an average of 12 points per game — a mark that’s tied for the best in the Sun Belt.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The other way to address Africa’s borrowing challenges, Loyiso Tyabashe, chief executive of the South Africa Nuclear Energy Corporation, told Semafor, is tied to execution.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetter. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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