1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the belief that too many rules and restrictions fetter children's creativity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fettering
Verb
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OpenAI’s founders vowed not to privilege speed over safety, and the organization’s articles of incorporation made benefitting humanity a legally binding duty.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026 -
The report also found that a guide and client who fell behind due to a ski binding malfunction avoided being caught in the avalanche — and later helped rescue others.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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New research from our team of epidemiologists at University of Southern California and University of California, Irvine, shows that blowing dust is impeding the lung growth of children in the region – especially those living closest to the Salton Sea.—
Jill Johnston,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Athletics got to Yankees closer David Bednar in the ninth inning Wednesday night, paving the way for a 3-2, series-tying victory for the nomadic visitors at Yankee Stadium.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
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The Sox brought the tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, but came up short to drop their second straight in the series.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The moves have reportedly left the task force without prosecutors with national security experience, hampering its goal to root out American connections to the Hamas attacks (which included 40 Americans among its approximately 1,200 victims).—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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The council chambers have only one entrance, hampering security and accessibility needs, and the council desk itself is not ADA-compliant.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From corrective eye surgery to confining plasma for nuclear fusion research and from entertainment to quickening checkout at supermarkets, lasers are now part of our everyday lives.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
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Certain signs, such as the recent decree by the municipal authorities of Damascus confining the sale of alcohol to Christian neighborhoods, are ominous.—
Alvaro Vargas Llosa,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Others blame social media for hindering crew members from socializing—and carousing—together.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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After Congress rejected those cuts earlier this year, the White House slowed the release of NIH grant money, hindering ongoing and future scientific research.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The peace deal should include restrictions on Iran nuclear capabilities and reopening the global trade artery of the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for lifting all economic sanctions constraining Iran.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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Wildfire risks The same forces constraining western water supplies could also set the stage for the West's wildfire season, which has lengthened over the last few decades with rising temperatures and intensifying drought.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2004, after years of incompetent, wasteful and corrupt agencies obstructing basic and legal public records requests, the California Assembly and Senate voted unanimously to put Proposition 59 before voters.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
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But constant artificial light has also become a problem, affecting sleep quality, disrupting plant and animal biorhythms and obstructing our views of the cosmos.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fettering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fettering. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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