FETTERING Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

fettering

verb

present participle of fetter

as in binding

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in impeding

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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fettering

Verb

Each round took seven to 10 days and involved synthesizing DNA candidates, testing their binding behavior and using sequencing results to guide subsequent designs.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
The 10th Circuit governs federal district courts in six states—Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming—and its rulings are influential, though not binding, elsewhere.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of binding

Verb

The insects tunnel their way into the trunk, impeding the tree’s water and nutrient supply and killing it within a year.

— Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
There’s also a 24-hour gym, a light and airy place with multiple cardio machines, weight training equipment, and floor space for yoga, stretching, or floor exercises (and enough room to do so without impeding on anyone else’s space).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

Hunter's interception led to Jacksonville's drive and Little’s game-tying field goal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton led a long, game-tying touchdown drive in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble with 58 seconds remaining and the Bulldogs driving for a potential go-ahead field goal.

— Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of tying

Verb

Kyiv sees this as an attempt to pressure it into concessions by hampering its aerial defense and military operations.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
Virus-carrying midges are hampering deer season in South Dakota, where an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease has prompted South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to issue deer license refunds.

— Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

Luck was not widespread among Wednesday’s Florida Lotto, Fantasy 5 and Powerball drawings, confining itself to a single ticket.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
If youth teams practiced like the pros, confining full contact to once a week, impacts could fall by more than half, Daneshvar says.

— Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of confining

Verb

And warming temperatures are hindering their ability to perform essential functions.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
But DistroKid nevertheless hit Sahunta with a copyright strike, freezing his royalty payments and potentially hindering his ability to put out future releases.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

Iran and its Houthi allies have also attacked refineries in the Middle East, further constraining fuel supplies.

— Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
This is important to me, because as much as these tech companies claim to be upending everything with AI and claiming extraordinarily special privileges as a result, there is still legal gravity constraining them.

— James Folta, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of constraining

Verb

One deputy was caught directly under branches and the tree's trunk, but was spared in part by the SUV obstructing the fall.

— Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
In addition to the outstanding warrants, the suspects also face charges for theft and obstructing peace officers.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of obstructing

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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fettered

fettering

fetters

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“Fettering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fettering. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fettering

verb

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