1
as in restrictions
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 obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
claims that government regulations are unnecessary fetters that keep him from achieving his business goals
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in handcuffs
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 binds
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
2
as in hinders
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 fetters
Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
The short life of Alexander Hamilton both feeds and fetters Vaill’s project.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fetters
Noun
-
Regional restrictions may apply.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Details are still emerging over exactly what the new flight restrictions will mean for airline travelers.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Desert plants replace mountain vegetation and offer new obstacles.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
When entering new environments, guide them carefully to highlight potential obstacles.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Brown was seen in handcuffs after the incident, but no arrests were made at the time because police could not locate a victim, WPLG reported.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Officers eventually placed the man into handcuffs after a struggle.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Philanthropy can be the glue that binds generations.—
William Jarvis,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
-
However, there's also another tie that binds the sparkling statements Meghan and Eugenie made, as both of their only tiara wears to date.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Martian atmosphere presents a major obstacle to safely and precisely landing on the surface, and also hinders any attempts to return contents (or people) back to Earth.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Therefore, the siloed nature of retail, not a lack of skills or resources, will prove to be the most significant barrier that hinders progress.—
Raj Dhiman,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The license fee is supposed to free the BBC from commercial constraints faced by other outlets, which drive many to tailor their output to the political persuasion of their audiences.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
But even given their current constraints, e-mail apps might still evolve past Cora and its ilk.—
Cal Newport,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
One of the largest hurdles was ensuring that behavior learned on Earth would translate to space, an issue often called the Sim2Real gap.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Yet many Venezuelans are facing significant hurdles when seeking asylum in the United States and elsewhere.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Stakeholders will closely monitor effects on private grocery chains, jobs, and the overall cost of living in the city.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Play Haus embraces child-like maximalism with candy-bright color palettes, cartoonish ceramics, paper chains, and a touch of chaos.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fetters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetters. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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